Explainer: Biden allows Ukraine to use US weapons deeper inside Russia

The US will allow Ukraine to use American-supplied longer-range weapons to conduct strikes deeper inside Russian territory, a long-sought request by Kyiv.

It isn't yet clear if there are limits on Ukraine's use of the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, as there have been on other US missile systems. Their deployment could -- at least initially -- be limited to Russia's Kursk region, where Ukrainian troops seized territory earlier this year.

Since the first year of the war, Ukrainian leaders have lobbied Western allies to allow them to use advanced weapons to strike key targets inside Russia. It could also serve as a deterrent force in the event of future cease-fire negotiations.

 

The US has long opposed the move, with President Joe Biden determined to avoid any escalation that he felt could draw the US and other Nato members into direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia. The Kremlin warned on Monday that the decision adds "fuel to the fire".

The decision comes in the waning days of Biden's presidency, before President-elect Donald Trump assumes office. Trump has said he would bring about a swift end to the war, which many fear could force unpalatable concessions from Kyiv. 

The ballistic missiles, developed by US aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin, have nearly double the striking distance -- up to 300 kilometres -- of most of the weapons in Ukraine's possession.

The US has supplied Ukraine with dozens of ATACMS (pronounced attack-ems) and they have been used to destroy military targets in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine such as Crimea -- but not on Russian soil.

Biden authorised Ukraine to use the ATACMS to strike deeper inside Russia, according to a US official and three other people familiar with the matter.

The longer-range missiles are likely to be used in response to North Korea's decision to send troops to support Kremlin forces, according to one of the people familiar with the development. Pyongyang's troops are apparently being deployed to help the Russian army drive Ukrainian forces out of Russia's Kursk border region, where they launched an incursion in August. 

It was the second time that Washington has expanded Ukraine's authority to use its US-provided weapons systems inside Russian territory.

In May, after Russia's offensive into the Kharkiv region threatened to stretch Ukrainian forces thin, Biden permitted the use of HIMARS systems -- with a range of 80 kilometres -- to quell that advance.

Ukraine has been asking its Western allies for longer-range weapons in order to alter the balance of power in a war where Russia is better resourced, and strike with precision air bases, supply depots and communication centres hundreds of kilometres over the border.

It hopes the weapons would help blunt Russia's air power and weaken the supply lines it needs to launch daily strikes against Ukraine and to sustain its military ground offensive into Ukraine.

If used in Kursk, the weapons would likely require Russian forces preparing for counterattacks to push back valuable equipment and manpower and complicate battle plans.

In lieu of Western weapons, Ukraine has been regularly striking Russia with domestically produced weapons, with some capable of travelling up to 1,000 kilometres but still lacks sufficient quantities to do serious long-term harm.

Ukrainian leaders are being cautious about the announcement -- and senior US defence and military leaders have persistently argued that it won't be a gamechanger. They also have noted that Russia has moved many key assets out of range.

"I don't believe one capability is going to be decisive and I stand by that comment," Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has said, noting that the Ukrainians have other means to strike long-range targets.

Analysts have also suggested the effect could be limited.

"Today, many in the media are talking about the fact that we have received permission to take appropriate actions. But blows are not inflicted with words. Such things are not announced. The rockets will speak for themselves," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the announcement.

The effect of the decision depends on the rules set for the weapons' use.

If strikes are allowed across all of Russia, they could significantly complicate Moscow's ability to respond to battlefield demands.

If strikes are limited to the Kursk region, Russia could relocate its command centres and air units to nearby regions, blunting the effect of those logistical challenges.

Either way, Pentagon spokesman Lt Col Charlie Dietz has noted the ATACMS wouldn't be the answer to the main threat Ukraine faces from Russian-fired glide bombs.

In addition, the overall supply of ATACMS is limited, so US officials in the past have questioned whether they could give Ukraine enough to make a difference.

In addition to it being unclear what, if any, restrictions the US will impose on the weapons' use, it's also not known how many the US will give to Ukraine.

While the US has provided ATACMS to Ukraine in various military aid packages, the Defence Department will not disclose how many have been sent or exactly how many of those missiles the Pentagon has.

The recent American election raises questions over how long this policy will be in place. Trump has repeatedly criticised the Biden administration's spending to support Ukraine -- and could reverse moves like this one.

On the other hand, it's also not clear whether other allies might step up.