Additional Coverage:
- The West is finally giving Ukraine a shot at ‘cutting the head off the snake’ rather than making it wait for Russia to strike (newsbreak.com)
In the ongoing conflict sparked by Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received backing from Western allies, enabling its military to launch strikes against military targets inside Russia. This significant policy shift promises to undermine Russia’s previously unchallenged capacity to conduct offensive operations from its territory.
Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images captured an image of Ukrainian soldiers operating a HIMARS launcher in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, demonstrating the increased capabilities now at Ukraine’s disposal.
For much of the conflict, Ukraine was restricted from using Western-supplied weapons to target Russian soil, a limitation that Russia did not face. This discrepancy allowed Russia to attack Ukraine from its own territory with drones and missiles while amassing troops and equipment for further assaults. Ukraine, on the other hand, was largely confined to using long-range drones for limited strikes within Russia, affecting airbases and other strategic sites, but lacking the impact of more sophisticated weaponry.
The adjustment in policy, articulated by analysts and military experts, is a game-changer for Ukraine. Col.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, formerly associated with UK and NATO’s chemical and biological defense forces, criticized the initial restrictions as heavily favoring Russian forces. The change is likened to allowing Ukraine to fight with both hands, rather than just one.
Late May saw several of Ukraine’s international supporters permitting the use of their supplied arms for broader offensive operations against Russian military targets—though certain constraints, like those on the US Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), remain.
On the ground, the implications are substantial. Ukraine can now target Russian air defenses and other critical assets on Russian territory, aiming to eliminate threats at their source rather than merely defending against them. This capability is expected to assist the Ukrainian military and its air forces, including the anticipated addition of F-16s, to make significant strategic gains.
Photos from Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images show rescue operations in Kharkiv following a Russian missile attack, emphasizing the continuing human and infrastructural toll. Analysts from the US-based Institute for the Study of War and other experts indicated that this strategic shift will increase the effectiveness of Ukraine’s military operations, potentially forcing Russia to reposition its assets further from the border, thereby straining its military operations.
The situation at the border regions like Kharkiv has already seen a noticeable impact since the policy change. George Barros of the Institute for the Study of War noted that Ukraine’s ability to strike into Russian territories like Belgorod has noticeably dampened the vigor of Russian offensive efforts in these areas.
Overall, while still facing significant challenges and limitations, the relaxation of earlier restrictions on the use of Western weapons provides Ukraine with new tactical opportunities to press its defense against Russian aggression more effectively.