In principle, Kiev should not shoot with Western weapons beyond its internationally recognized borders.
The Biden administration secretly delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine last month for the first time in the two-year war, and Kiev has twice used the weapon to strike deep behind Russian lines, Politico reported.
The portal wrote that in March, the United States quietly approved the transfer of the army's tactical missile system with a range of more than 300 kilometers.
thereby allowing President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's forces to threaten several Russian targets in territories seized from Ukraine.
According to Politico's sources, Ukrainian forces have used the long-range missiles twice so far, first against a Russian military base in Crimea and more recently against Russian forces east of Berdyansk near the Sea of Azov.
The United States was initially reluctant to send the ATACMS, even with sustained domestic and international pressure, due to concerns about supplies and fears of an escalation of the war.
Due to Russia's increasingly decisive advance, Biden finally authorized their transfer.
However, the portal's source admitted that Ukraine is still in a difficult situation. "There is no miracle weapon that can change the battle conditions," he said.
He added that the long-range weapons could be used by the Ukrainians "at a place and time of their choosing" and, in his opinion, this could bring some advantage to the Ukrainians.
The information that has come to light puts even more pressure on German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to authorize the transfer of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine, which the German government has so far rejected, wrote Politico.
Cover photo: In a recording released by the press service of the Russian Ministry of Defense on April 12, 2024, a Ka-52 helicopter of the Russian Air Force fires missiles at Ukrainian targets at an undisclosed location.
Press service of MTI/AP/Russian Ministry of Defense
