Kharkiv Under Siege: Ukraine Authorized To Strike Russian Targets As Civilian Casualties Mount

Posted by: lukwago J in World news May 31, 2024

In a significant shift in the ongoing conflict, the United States has authorized Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons to target Russian territory in defence of the embattled Kharkiv region.

This decision comes in the wake of a deadly Russian missile strike that killed three civilians and wounded at least 16 others, including an emergency medic, in the Ukrainian city.

The attack on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city bordering Russia’s Belgorod region, is the latest in a series of Russian bombardments that have plagued the area. Just last weekend, a similar strike on a hardware superstore claimed the lives of 16 people.

With Russia regaining the upper hand on the battlefield in recent months, Ukraine had intensified its calls for permission to employ longer-range US weapons to retaliate against Russian forces.

Washington had previously resisted such requests, fearing it could escalate the conflict and potentially draw NATO into direct confrontation with Moscow.

However, the calculus appears to have shifted as a result of Russia’s renewed offensive in the Kharkiv region. US officials have now confirmed that President Joe Biden has lifted the restrictions, allowing Ukraine to use American-provided weapons for “counter-fire purposes” to defend the area.

The decision has been welcomed by alliance leaders, with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and French President Emmanuel Macron both indicating that the time has come for members to reconsider the limits on strikes inside Russia.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, however, has expressed reservations, stating that Ukraine should act within the law.

As the conflict continues to evolve, the authorization for Ukraine to target Russian territory marks a significant development in the ongoing struggle for the Kharkiv region.

With civilian casualties mounting, the move aims to provide Kyiv with the necessary tools to defend its people and push back against the relentless Russian onslaught.

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