Ukraine’s long-range attacks on Russia could change the course of the war, according to a recent analysis by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Successful strikes deep inside Russia could force invading forces to reposition important assets, disrupting Russian military logistics. The ISW highlighted Ukrainian strikes using HIMARS rockets in 2022 as effective in degrading Russian logistics.
There are ongoing discussions about granting Kyiv greater freedom to use Western-provided weapons. While some countries have expressed support, the US is wary of escalating the conflict. Russian authorities are making significant efforts to influence these debates to Ukraine’s detriment. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any long-range strikes into Russia using Western weapons would be considered direct involvement in the conflict.
US intelligence agencies noted that granting Ukraine’s request for more weapons carries high risks with uncertain outcomes. It could provoke Moscow to retaliate more forcefully against the US and its allies. These concerns may be influencing President Joe Biden’s hesitation to approve the use of more weapons by Ukraine.
