Washington is 'concerned about the escalation,' says Defense Ministry deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh
The United States will not allow the Ukrainian military to use longer-range American missiles to strike deep into Russia, including in the Kursk region, Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said at a briefing on Thursday. Kyiv forces launched a major incursion into the Russian border region last week.
Kyiv has repeatedly called on its Western backers to allow it to use certain weapons, including long-range ATACMS missiles, to strike Russian territory. The ongoing invasion of Russia's Kursk region “reborn” According to Ukrainian media, these calls were taken into account by leader Volodymyr Zelensky, who allegedly insisted that such strikes would bring the end of the conflict closer.
ATACMS can hit targets up to 300 kilometers away and can be launched from the US HIMARS multiple launch rocket system.
Asked about their use by Kiev on Thursday, Singh said Washington had already “worked with the Ukrainians to establish these parameters” and what are they “haven't changed.”
The Pentagon believes the best way for Ukraine to be effective is to try to “push [Russian] forces back to reclaim their sovereign territory,” This appears to refer to four former Ukrainian regions that joined Russia in a referendum in 2022 but are still considered part of Ukraine by Kiev.
“Delivering long-range deep strikes on Russian territory” is not “Necessarily” serve these purposes, Singh continued, adding that “Of course, we are concerned about the escalation.”
She added that it was only because Russia “Just because someone didn't respond to something doesn't mean they can't or won't respond in the future.”
Earlier this week, The Telegraph reported that the British government had refused to allow Kyiv to use Storm Shadow missiles – another Western-made long-range missile in its arsenal – to support an invasion of Russia's Kursk region.
According to CNN, the White House's reluctance to allow Kyiv to use ATACMS is not due to fear of escalation, but “Limited offer” missiles it could spare. The broadcaster said the long-range weapons could be better used to target Russia's Crimea.
On Friday, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had shot down 12 ATACMS missiles aimed at the Crimean Bridge, which connects the peninsula to the Russian mainland. The bridge has been repeatedly attacked by Ukrainian forces throughout the conflict. In October 2022, it was damaged by a truck bomb. In July 2023, it was hit by a Ukrainian naval drone. Both attacks resulted in several civilian casualties.
US officials believe that the Kursk invasion could end badly for Kyiv, CNN reports, citing sources. Ukraine “They are sending quite experienced troops to this and they cannot afford to lose these troops,” one such official told the media. The diversion of these troops from the front line “creates opportunities for Russia to take advantage and break through,” he added.
The attack on the Kursk region was the largest onslaught on a Russian border region since the conflict began. Moscow accused Kyiv of indiscriminately targeting civilians during the operation.