Debris covered a street in Kharkiv after a Russian missile hit an apartment block, prompting firefighters to rush to rescue people. The U.S. disclosed a policy shift allowing Ukraine to defend against such attacks by using American weapons to hit targets in Russia near the border with Kharkiv. This permission is limited to defensive tactics in the northeastern region, where fighting has been ongoing for weeks after Russian troops entered Ukraine. The Biden administration had previously drawn a red line against hitting targets inside Russia due to concerns about escalation.
The decision to allow Ukraine to use American weapons inside Russia marks a significant reversal and historic moment for the U.S. while providing Ukraine with new supplies of powerful weapons already in its arsenal. The weapons package approved by Congress includes howitzers, guided rockets, and cruise missiles from U.S., France, and Britain. Ukrainian officials welcomed the decision as a way to fight back against Russian forces responsible for missile attacks across the border from Russia. Russian officials warned that such actions could lead to serious consequences and escalation.
The strike on Kharkiv on Friday is the type of attack that Ukraine has cited in requesting the U.S. to amend its policy and allow the use of Western weapons to target Russian forces responsible for the assaults. The missile strike killed three people and wounded 23 in an apartment building, with a second missile hitting the same location shortly after, in a tactic to target emergency responders. Residents of Kharkiv live in fear of daily bombardments, with bombs and missiles hitting the city multiple times a day, leaving civilians with little warning or protection.
Ukraine has been striking targets in Russian territory with a fleet of long-range exploding drones, but the American weapons would help in ground fighting and air defense around Kharkiv. The weapons are intended to help Ukraine defend the city and fight against Russian forces that have been dominating the conflict so far. The shift in policy by the U.S. is seen as a crucial step in allowing Ukraine to regain its footing in the war and defend against escalating attacks on Kharkiv.
For residents of Kharkiv, the bombings have become a constant menace overshadowing their daily lives, with little warning and the threat of missiles hitting at any time. The high-casualty attacks have left people in fear and uncertainty, knowing that they could be hit by a missile at any moment. Urgent appeals from Ukraine for the use of Western weapons to strike inside Russia before the Biden administration’s shift in policy highlighted the need to defend against the escalating violence in Kharkiv and other parts of Ukraine.
Kharkiv’s mayor reported a fire after the missile strike hit the apartment building, with casualties and injuries adding to the toll on civilians. The border region near Kharkiv has been a focal point of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with battles raging as both sides fight for control. The move to allow the limited use of American weapons to strike into Russia reflected a strategic decision to support Ukraine in defending its territory and combating Russian forces that have been launching attacks from across the border.
