The German government has announced that Ukraine is now permitted to use German-supplied weapons against Russian attacks originating just over their joint border. This significant policy change came shortly after U.S. President Joe Biden approved Kyiv’s use of American weapons to strike Russian military targets attacking Ukraine’s second-largest city.
In a statement, the German government noted that Russia has recently been preparing and launching attacks on Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region from areas just across the border. "Together, we believe Ukraine has the right under international law to defend itself against these attacks," the statement read. "This includes using the weapons we have delivered for that purpose, in line with international legal commitments."
The policy shift by Germany follows a month of intense Russian assaults in the Kharkiv region, including an aerial bomb attack on a construction supplies store that killed 18 people on May 25. This escalation has led to mass evacuations and strained Ukraine's already depleted forces, prompting Western leaders to reconsider their policies.
The delay in U.S. military aid and Western Europe’s insufficient military production have contributed to Ukraine’s shortages in troops and ammunition. President Biden's decision now allows U.S.-supplied weapons to be used for "counterfire purposes in the Kharkiv region so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces," according to a Washington official. However, U.S. policy still prohibits Ukraine from using American-provided ATACMS or long-range missiles to strike inside Russia offensively.
The German announcement came after Russian ballistic missiles hit an apartment block in Kharkiv, killing at least four people. Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched five S-300/S-400 ballistic missiles at Kharkiv overnight. The first missile struck a residential building, followed by another 25 minutes later that targeted first responders, injuring at least 25 people.
Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of employing a “double tap” tactic, targeting rescue workers with consecutive missile strikes. This method was previously used by Russia in Syria’s civil war. Besides Kharkiv, Russian forces are also advancing in the Donetsk region and preparing for an attack in the Sumy region.
The limitations on using Western weapons have frustrated Ukrainian officials, as they have been unable to strike Russian troops and bases massing across the border. The question of whether to allow Ukraine to hit targets on Russian soil with Western-supplied weapons has been contentious since Russia’s full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.
Western leaders have hesitated to take this step due to fears of provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has warned that direct Western involvement could lead to nuclear conflict. However, with Russia gaining battlefield momentum along parts of the 1,000-kilometer front line, some Western leaders are now advocating for a policy change to permit Kyiv to target Russian military bases with sophisticated long-range weapons.
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