White House confirms Ukraine can use US ATACMS missiles for strikes inside Russia

The White House acknowledged Monday that it has eased restrictions on Ukraine’s use of U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles, allowing Kyiv’s forces to target locations deeper within Russian territory.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Washington had “changed the guidance” on the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, giving Ukraine the ability to strike specific targets.

“We did change the guidance… and we gave them guidance that they could use them to strike these particular types of targets,” Kirby told reporters.

“Right now, they are able to use ATACMS to defend themselves in an immediate-need basis. And right now, understandably, that’s taken place in around Kursk, in the Kursk Oblast,” he told reporters, referring to the Russian territory Ukrainian forces have been operating in since August.

“I’d let the Ukrainians speak to their use of ATACMS, and their targeting procedures, and what they’re using them for, and how well they’re doing,” he added.

Last week, Ukraine attacked Russia’s Bryansk region with six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles and targeted sites in the Kursk region the following day, using British Storm Shadow missiles and U.S. HIMARS systems. The attack on Kursk hit a Russian command post, resulting in casualties.

In a televised address, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow had retaliated by striking a missile factory in the Ukrainian city of Dnipro with a hypersonic missile. He attributed the strike to the U.S. and NATO’s decision to allow Ukraine to use long-range, high-precision weapons against Russia.

Earlier, the Biden administration had declined to comment on any changes to the restrictions on Ukraine’s use of ATACMS. Washington had previously supplied the missiles but limited their use to avoid escalating the conflict by striking deep into Russian territory.

U.S. President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to conduct strikes within Russia’s borders in May, following repeated Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities near the border.