Ukraine has used US weapons to hit inside Russia: Western official

WASHINGTON:

Ukraine

has used

US weapons

to

strike

inside

Russia

in recent days, according to a

Western official

familiar with the matter. The weapons were used under recently approved guidance from

President Joe Biden

allowing American arms to be used to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of

defending Kharkiv

, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

The official was not authorised to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on condition of anonymity.
Biden’s directive allows for US-supplied weapons to be used to strike Russian forces that are attacking or preparing to attack. It does not change US policy that directs Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and other munitions to strike offensively inside Russia, US officials have said.
Ukrainian officials had stepped up calls on the US to allow Kyiv’s forces to defend themselves against attacks originating from Russian territory. Kharkiv sits just 20km from the Russian border and has come under intensified Russian attack.
On Tuesday,

White House

national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that he could not confirm that Ukraine had used US weapons at targets in Russia. “We’re just not in a position on a day-to-day basis of knowing exactly what the Ukrainians are firing at what. It’s certainly at a tactical level.”