The series of strikes on November 19 and 20 show that Ukraine has already begun using long-range weapons systems provided by the West to strike of more sophisticated strikes, which will help the country conduct more effective combat operations against Russia, Ukrinform reported, citing a report by the Institute for the Study of War (IIV), BTA reported.
During these strikes, Kiev used drones and Storm Shadow missiles, striking a number of military targets inside Russia. The IDF has long pointed out that the weapons that Western partners provide to Ukraine, along with domestic defense industry output and innovation, are the building blocks of larger capabilities that Ukraine needs to successfully wage a modern, multi-front war.< /p>
Kiev has already proven effective in using drones, often domestically produced, to strike a variety of targets inside Russia, including military bases, command posts and ammunition depots, analysts say.
„Ukraine's arsenal already includes air and sea drones and Western-provided systems such as the F-16, HYMARS and ATAKMS, although the terms of use of the latter are restrictive enough to reduce the benefit Ukraine can derive from their use. The addition of more powerful and precise systems provided by the West, such as JASSM missiles and additional ATAKMS systems, “Storm Shadow“ and SCALP, is critical for Ukraine to increase the effect it can generate through long-range strikes against the Russian rear”, IIV said.
The report emphasized that any restrictions on Ukraine's ability to use Western weapons to strike on Russian territory would reduce Kiev's ability to strike commensurately. “Ukraine needs continued military assistance from the West, as well as domestic innovation and manufacturing, to continue planning and executing strikes in Russia's rear and to accumulate progress at the tactical and operational level on the battlefield,”, the analysts wrote.< /p>
On November 17, the “New York Times” reported that US President Joe Biden had authorized Ukraine to use ATAKMS long-range missiles against targets deep inside Russian territory. Republican leadership in the US Senate later confirmed the administration's move to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range missiles.
Newspaper “Times“ reported that Ukraine had been authorized to strike targets in Russia with Storm Shadow missiles, and Bloomberg added that the Ukrainian military had already used UK-made cruise missiles to attack military sites on Russian soil.