By Jim Morris, Warrior Vice President, News
It had been a red line for the Biden administration. But just days after President Biden gave Ukraine the go-ahead to use US-supplied weapons to hit targets in Russia, the Ukrainians have done just that.
According to a government minister, Iryna Vereshchuk, Ukrainian forces hit a Russian missile system inside Russia.. “It burns beautifully. It’s a Russian S-300. On Russian territory,” Vereshchuk wrote on Facebook. “The first days after permission to use Western weapons on enemy territory.”
According to the New York Times, the deputy chairman of a Ukrainian parliamentary national security committee said Ukrainian forces used a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) to hit the target in the Belgorod region, about 20 miles inside Russia.
There’s been no comment from Russia. Earlier Monday, the Kremlin warned the US against letting Ukraine the weapons it has supplied to Kyiv against targets on Russian soil.
“I would like to warn American leaders against miscalculations that could have fatal consequences,” said Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. “For come unknown reason, they underestimate the seriousness of the rebuff they may receive.”
For months, Ukraine had pleaded with its Western allies to let it use their weapons to fire at targets in Russia. Last week, the White House gave its blessings. But the green light came with strict limits.
Ukraine can only strike targets around Kharkiv, the country’s second-largest city that has been besieged by Russian forces. Kharkiv is in northeastern Ukraine, not far from the Russian border. And Ukrainian forces are banned from the most power missile it has to fire in to Russia. That’s the Army Tactical Missiles System (ATACMS).
A spokesman for the National Security Council told the New York Times the US will not reconsider its ban on strikes deeper in Russia in the coming weeks.
Last month, Russia delivered what was seen to be a warning that it could escalate the fighting. It conducted exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons. Video showed the mobile Iskander missile system being placed in position for firing, while troops were practicing with what was called “special ammunition” – nuclear warheads – for the missiles. The Iskander can be used with either conventional or nuclear warheads.
The drills began after UK Foreign Minister David Cameron said Ukrainian forces would be able to use British long-range weapons to hit targets inside Russia.
