U.S. Authorizes Use of Weapons—These Goals Are Achievable

Ukraine can now attack Russian targets with U.S. missiles. This means that strategically important targets are now within Kiev's reach.

Luca Wolpers, Simon Cleven, Mauritius Croft/t-online

This decision could have a significant impact on the further course of the war in Ukraine: the United States has given Ukraine permission to use Western long-range weapons to attack targets in Russia. Three people familiar with the matter told Reuters the restrictions had been lifted.

According to insiders, the first attack is likely to be carried out using ATACMS missiles. Their range is about 300 kilometers. The New York Times reported that the decision was in response to North Korea deploying soldiers on the Russian side.

So far, Ukraine has received two weapons systems that can be used to attack targets far from Russia's borders. On the one hand is the “Storm Shadow/Scalp-EP” cruise missile with a range of 250 kilometers cooperated by Britain and France, and on the other hand is the American ATACMS missile with a range of 300 kilometers. However, permission has not yet been obtained from the UK and France.

But what targets can Ukraine now target, with U.S. permission?

The United States has a list of destinations

So far, Ukraine has mainly used drones to carry out attacks in areas far from the Russian border. The drones carry only small amounts of explosives and can only cause limited damage. ATACMS ballistic missiles could significantly enhance Ukraine's strike power. In addition, the Kyiv Armed Forces will be more flexible in selecting targets.

Image source: t-online

At the end of August, Ukraine submitted to the United States a list of potential Russian targets that Kiev wanted to attack. The list also includes airfields used by Russia to attack Ukrainian cities within ATACMS range.

The Institute for War Studies (ISW), an American think tank, wrote in its analysis of the war in Ukraine that there are many possible targets within the radius of long-range weapons. “ISW estimates that at least 250 military and paramilitary targets in Russia are within range of ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States to Ukraine,” the report said.

Targets allegedly include large military bases, communications stations, logistics centers, maintenance facilities, fuel depots, ammunition depots and headquarters. The ISW continues that these targets are difficult to relocate and will currently support Russian forces in the areas of command and control, reconnaissance, logistics and maintenance.

The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing U.S. government sources, that the missiles would initially be used to attack Russian and North Korean soldiers in Kursk Oblast. Statements from the states were not initially available.

Sources used:

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