The New York Times, citing officials familiar with the matter, reports that after months of negotiations, the Joe Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to attack targets inside Russian territory using long-range ATACMS missiles.
According to these officials, the first strikes will target Russian army units in the Kursk Oblast.
Since August, the Ukrainian army has taken control of parts of the region, prompting Russia to mount efforts to dislodge Ukrainian troops. Russia has amassed a force of approximately 50,000 soldiers while occupying about 1,000 square kilometers of territory.
The scope of ATACMS missile attacks could expand in the future, according to The New York Times sources.
Reuters reports that the first ATACMS strikes against Russia are expected to occur in the coming days. A special version of the missile, with a range of 300 kilometers, will be used in the initial operations.
In a list of targets submitted to Washington in September, Kiev identified strategic points such as warehouses, fuel depots, and military airfields located hundreds of kilometers from the border.
ATACMS impact and strategic reach
The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) highlights that ATACMS missiles with a 300-kilometer range are capable of reaching nine major Russian cities, collectively home to a population of 4.7 million.
These cities include Rostov-na-Donu (1.14 million), Voronezh (1.046 million), and oblast capitals such as Kursk (436,000), Orel (296,000), Bryansk (373,000), Lipetsk (486,000), Smolensk (312,000), and Kaluga (329,000).
ISW’s analysis also notes that there are at least 245 Russian military facilities within range of Western long-range weapons. These include 16 Russian military aviation airfields, troop bases, headquarters, command centers, and fuel depots.
Support from France and the United Kingdom
In addition to the U.S., Le Figaro reports that France and the United Kingdom have also authorized Ukraine to strike Russian territory using SCALP/Storm Shadow long-range missiles.
The report suggests that these weapons could be used to target Russian troops threatening Ukrainian forces in the Kursk Oblast. Additionally, President Biden could authorize Kiev to deploy long-range weapons in other regions as needed.
Trump administration may reassess the decision
Meanwhile, a representative from President-elect Donald Trump’s team has suggested that the new administration may reconsider Biden’s decision. Speaking to TASS, the representative stated, “Almost everything will be re-evaluated. But there is only one president in the United States, and that person is Joe Biden until noon on January 20, 2025.”
CNN reports that Stephen Cheung, communications director for Trump’s transition team, declined to comment directly on Biden’s decision. Instead, he reiterated Trump’s calls for negotiations between Moscow and Kiev, stating:
“As President Trump said during the campaign, he is the only one who can bring the two sides together, negotiate peace, and work to end the war and the killing.”
Cheung also refused to address whether Trump or his advisers had received any intelligence from the Biden administration on the issue.
Billionaire Elon Musk, a key figure within Trump’s advisory team, expressed concerns about the potential risks of using Western weapons against Russian territory. Musk warned that such actions could provoke Moscow to “respond in kind,” posing a significant risk to the West.
