ALBAWABA- Ukraine has utilized U.S. weapons to strike targets within Russia, following new guidelines from the US President Joe Biden. These strikes aimed to defend Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, from intensified Russian attacks.
Republican Sen. Mike Rounds and an anonymous Western official confirmed the use of American arms in these operations.
Biden's directive permits U.S. weapons to target Russian forces attacking or preparing to attack Ukraine but prohibits their use for offensive strikes inside Russia.
Delays in U.S. military aid and slow Western European military production have hindered Ukraine's defenses. White House national security spokesman John Kirby did not confirm the strikes, citing tactical-level uncertainties.
The Institute for the Study of War reported that Ukrainian forces likely used HIMARS to hit a Russian air defense battery in Belgorod, about 40 miles from the front line. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is currently in Qatar and is a key mediator in the conflict.
