Ukraine Welcomes Long-Range Missile Permission, Acknowledges Limitations

For months, President Zelensky had advocated for this development. Upon its realization, his response was somewhat reserved. In his nightly address, he stated that strikes are not executed with words, adding: “Such things are not announced, missiles speak for themselves. Definitely.” Reports indicate extensively that US President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to employ long-range missiles provided by Washington for targeting locations deep within Russia. It is anticipated that Ukraine’s initial deployment of the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, will be restricted to safeguarding Ukrainian forces maintaining control over a limited portion of Russian territory in the Kursk region. A significant Russian counter-offensive is anticipated in that area within days, supported by up to 10,000 soldiers from North Korea. During the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer refrained from verifying these reports. However, he affirmed that the Biden administration had communicated its intent to react to “a significant Russian escalation that involves the deployment of a foreign country’s forces on its own territory”. Mr. Finer stated that he would not disclose the nature of the US response “for operational reasons.” The deployment of these missiles, which possess the capability to strike military installations far within Russia, could hinder Russia’s operations, thereby allowing Ukraine to retain a significant advantage in anticipation of potential peace negotiations next year. Military specialists in Ukraine have expressed approval of Washington’s choice, noting that while it may not fundamentally alter the trajectory of the conflict, it will re-establish some equilibrium. This development occurs as Russian forces are gradually advancing across the entire eastern front, and Ukraine perceives itself to have been at a disadvantage for multiple months. Maj Volodymyr Omelyan of the Brigade of Armed Forces of Ukraine remarked, “Ukrainians are very much inspired with the news.” Previously, Putin had cautioned that such an action by the US would constitute direct involvement of NATO nations in the conflict; however, Maj Omelyan dismissed this as mere “bluffing.” He informed the BBC World Service, “We shall not pay any attention,” citing that Russia had issued comparable warnings regarding “many other systems and weapons we received.” He concluded, “Nothing happened. Nothing will happen this time as well.” The former government official further stated that Ukraine required comparable authorization for deploying Storm Shadow missiles, which are produced by Britain and France. Ukrainian Member of Parliament Inna Sovsun conveyed that Ukrainians were “happy this decision has been taken” and believed it would create a “huge difference.” Nevertheless, she noted dissatisfaction “that it took Biden so long to make a decision that could have saved lives” if it had been made sooner. She expressed, “I wish it [had] been made before Putin had destroyed half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.” The precise details of Washington’s resolution remain undisclosed, including the quantity of missiles Ukraine currently possesses or the stipulations Washington has imposed for their deployment. Oleksiy Goncharenko, an MP representing Odessa, emphasized that Ukraine required an adequate supply of missiles for Washington’s action to be impactful. He stated, “It’s very important to have not just permission but missiles – to be capable… to make a difference to the situation.” He further commented that it was a “pity” the decision “took almost 1,000 days,” concluding that it was “better late than never.” Maria Ionova, another Ukrainian Member of Parliament, underscored that missiles were “not the silver bullet.” She asserted that a shift in strategy was necessary. She elaborated, “Because our enemies are united – and we should stand together as well.” This represents a notable development in anticipation of another challenging winter. However, Sunday’s Russian missile and drone assaults, which resulted in up to 20 fatalities, served as a potent reminder that Moscow remains determined to achieve victory in the conflict, on its own conditions. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.