The United States has granted Ukraine permission to utilize US-made armaments, such as ATACMS rockets with a striking range of up to 306km, for operations deep within Russian territory, according to two US officials and a source familiar with the decision.
In September, President Vladimir Putin remarked that this decision would signify “direct involvement of NATO countries” in the ongoing conflict.
Below is a compilation of various weapon systems that Western nations initially hesitated to provide Ukraine but ultimately delivered.
ATACMS
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has consistently urged allies to equip his country with the capability to strike further behind Russian lines, a vital strategy for disrupting enemy logistics and command structures.
This was succeeded by the delivery of an extended-range variant of the ATACMS missile in early 2024, which boasts a range of up to 300km.
With US approval, Ukraine will now have the ability to target areas deep within Russia, most likely in the Kursk region, where Ukrainian forces still control significant territory, and where reports indicate North Korean troops are concentrated.
In August, analysts from the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War noted that numerous identified Russian military sites were within the ATACMS range.
However, it is probable that some military assets have been relocated deeper into Russia in anticipation of the US decision, despite logistical challenges.
F-16s
From the outset of the invasion, Ukraine has sought F-16 fighter jets to enhance its long-range strike capabilities and to intercept the cruise missiles that Moscow has launched deep into Ukraine.
Ukrainian pilots commenced training on these jets only in August 2023, following extensive negotiations among the allied coalition regarding the provision of aircraft or training.
Ukraine successfully received its first F-16s in July.
The urgency for completing the training process was high, and confirmation of the first planes’ arrival was announced on 31 July this year.
Since then, one aircraft has crashed during an attempt to engage Russian missiles targeting land locations in Ukraine.
Western Tanks
While Ukraine’s Eastern European allies supplied Soviet-era tanks at the initial stages of the invasion, Kyiv expressed a strong desire for Western-built tanks, such as the UK’s Challenger 2 and Germany’s Leopard 2, until their provision was approved after extensive negotiations in January 2023.
The coalition agreement to supply tanks faced delays due to Germany’s concerns that such a move could be perceived as escalatory by Russia. Eventually, Germany consented to the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks from both its stockpiles and those of other nations.
Strikes on Russia
For more than two years, the United States refrained from permitting Ukraine to target Russia with any of its weaponry.
This stance shifted following a Russian offensive in May 2024 near the northwestern city of Kharkiv, prompted by pressures from Ukraine.
President Joe Biden secretly authorized Ukraine to utilize US-supplied weapons against military targets within Russia that were supporting the Kharkiv operation.
