The US prohibition on using its weapons to strike Russian territory seriously hampers Ukraine's efforts to defend against Russian offensive operations in the northern Kharkiv region, reports the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
On May 16, Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh stated that the Biden administration has not changed its position regarding the use of Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) with American weapons to strike targets on Russian territory. The administration emphasizes that such weapons can only be used to liberate occupied Ukrainian territory.
According to analysts at ISW, these restrictions imposed by the US and other Western countries have created a pocket in the border regions of the Russian Federation, from which Russian aircraft can carry out glider bomb and missile strikes on Ukrainian positions and civilian areas. Additionally, this allows Russian troops and equipment to freely assemble before commencing combat operations.
"This US policy is severely compromising Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian offensive operations in northern Kharkiv region," the Institute for the Study of War report states.
Russian advance in the Kharkiv region
Since May 11, Russia has been attacking residential areas in the border regions of the Kharkiv oblast and attempting to enter the city of Vovchansk. The Russian forces have advanced 10 kilometers into Ukrainian territory.
Ukrainian defense forces have halted the Russian advance towards Kharkiv and stabilized the front line.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that by advancing in the Kharkiv region, the Russian army is trying to weaken the Ukrainian Armed Forces along the entire front line.
