US ban on striking Russia with their weapons undermines Ukraine's ability to defend itself in Kharkiv Oblast – analysts

Experts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that the US ban on strikes with provided weapons against military targets in Russia undermines Ukraine's ability to defend itself against the Russian offensive operations in the north of Kharkiv Oblast.

Source: ISW

Details: It was noted that the US Helsinki Commission had stated that the United States should allow Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia's border areas amid Russia's ongoing offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, although US officials continue to express reluctance to support such strikes.

The US Helsinki Commission is convinced that the United States should "not only allow, but encourage" Ukrainian forces to strike at Russian forces that are firing and deployed in Russia's border areas. At the same time, the commission added that Ukraine should decide for itself how to conduct this war.

The ISW assessed that the US restrictions on Ukraine's ability to strike military targets in Russia have created a safe haven in Russia's border areas from which Russian aircraft can launch bombs and missiles at Ukrainian positions and populated areas, and where Russian troops and equipment can freely gather before engaging in combat.

"This US policy is severely compromising Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian offensive operations in northern Kharkiv Oblast," they said.  

Background:

• The Biden administration's limitation on the use of US-made weapons in Russia has been in place since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
• In May, the UK government lifted a similar restriction on the use of UK weapons in Russia, as announced by UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron during his visit to Kyiv.
• Ukraine has been conducting strikes on Russian territory for several months, using its own small drones to attack oil facilities. But officials in Kyiv insist that they need more powerful American missiles to penetrate Russian air defences along the border.
• Ukrainian parliamentarians in the United States are making new attempts to force the Biden administration to lift the ban on the use of US-made weapons for strikes on Russian territory.

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