US confirms permission for long-range strikes on Russia

Ukraine can use ATACMS to strike in the vicinity of Kursk Oblast, the White House has said

Washington has now officially confirmed a rumored policy change allowing Ukraine to strike inside Russia using US-supplied ATACMS missiles.

Multiple media outlets reported on the permission earlier this month. While US President Joe Biden and his administration remained silent, Kiev fired a volley of ATACMS projectiles at Russia’s Bryansk Region last Monday.

“They are able to use ATACMS to defend themselves in an immediate-need basis,” National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters at a White House briefing on Monday.

“We did change the guidance and gave them guidance that they can use them to strike these particular types of targets,” Kirby said, referring to the Ukrainian attacks “in and around Kursk.”

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