Berlin Approves Ukrainian Use of German Weapons to Hit Targets in Russia

Kyiv: Germany joined United States on Friday in authorising Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with long-range weapons y are supplying — a significant policy change that comes as depleted Ukrainian troops are losing ground in war. Ukrainian officials have expressed frustration over restrictions on use of Western weapons — especially as border region of Kharkiv has endured a Russian onslaught this month that has stretched Kyiv's outgunned and outmanned forces.

Both Germany and US specifically authorised defence of Kharkiv, whose capital city of same name lies only 20 kilometres (12 miles) from Russia. Russian ballistic missiles slammed into an apartment building in city overnight, killing at least four people.

Beyond offering Ukraine a chance of better protecting Kharkiv, it’s not clear what effect easing of restrictions might have on direction of conflict in what is proving to be a critical period.

German government said Ukraine can use weapons it supplies against positions just over border, from where Russia launches its attacks on Kharkiv. A day earlier, US President Joe Biden gave Kyiv a green light to strike back with American weapons at Russian military assets targeting region, according to US officials familiar with matter.

German announcement brought a furious response from Moscow, where Dmitry Medvedev, deputy he of Russia’s Security Council, said that “Ukraine and its NATO allies will receive such a devastating response that alliance won’t be able to avoid entering conflict” — an eventuality that Western governments have ruled out.

Western leers have hesitated to ease restrictions on ir weapons because of risk it would provoke Russian President Vlimir Putin, who has repeatedly warned that West’s direct involvement could put world on a path to nuclear conflict.

But as Russia has recently gained battlefield initiative in some parts of 1,000-kilometre (600-mile) front line, some Western leers have pushed for a policy change allowing Kyiv to strike military bases inside Russia with sophisticated long-range weapons provided by its Western partners.

Kremlin’s bigger and better-equipped army is exploiting Ukrainian shortages in troops and ammunition after a lengthy delay in US military aid. Western Europe’s inequate military production has also slowed crucial deliveries to Ukraine.

German government statement noted that, in recent weeks, Russia has prepared, coordinated and carried out attacks on Kharkiv region, in particular from areas just over border in Russia.

“Toger we are convinced that Ukraine has right under international law to defend itself against se attacks,” statement said. “For this, it can also use weapons delivered for that purpose in accordance with its international legal commitments, including ones delivered by us,” it ded, without elaborating on what Berlin called confidential agreements with Kyiv.

Biden’s decision allows for US-supplied weapons to be used for “counterfire purposes in Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces that are attacking m or preparing to attack m,” one official told Associated Press.

But officials, who requested anonymity to discuss sensitive matter, stressed that US policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles and or munitions to strike offensively inside Russia has not changed.

question of wher to allow Ukraine to hit targets on Russian soil with Western-supplied weaponry has been a delicate issue since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Friday he supported lifting limits on Ukraine's use of Western weaponry, saying it's “a matter of upholding international law — Ukraine’s right to self-defence."

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom noted that his country h not restricted Ukraine's use of its weapons at all, while Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Rome won’t let Kyiv use Italian weapons outside its territory.

In Moscow, Medvedev repeated Russian warnings that steps being taken could set NATO and Russia on path to a nuclear conflict. “It’s not an attempt to scare or any sort of a nuclear bluff,” he said.

Russia’s newly appointed defence minister, Andrei Belousov, claimed Friday that Russian troops are “vancing in all tactical directions,” including in Kharkiv region where he said y have pushed Ukrainian forces back by as much as nine kilometres (5 miles). Russian forces captured 28 towns and villages over past month, he said.

Overall since start of year, Russian forces have taken control of 880 square kilometres (340 square miles) of territory, he ded.

It was not possible to verify his battlefield claims.

Overnight into Friday, Russia launched five ballistic missiles at Kharkiv, Ukraine’s air force said. One of m struck a residential building close to midnight and was followed by anor missile 25 minutes later that hit first responders, according to regional Gov. Oleh Syniehubov. At least 25 people were injured, he said.

Ukrainian officials have previously accused Russia of targeting rescue workers by hitting residential buildings with two consecutive missiles — first one to draw emergency crews to scene and second one to wound or kill m. Russia used method in Syria’s civil war.

Apart from Kharkiv, Moscow's troops are pressing in Donetsk region furr south and are assembling a force for an expected attack in Sumy region furr north, according to Ukrainian officials.