Ukraine celebrated a major victory on Monday, claiming to have successfully targeted a Russian S-300 missile system using Western-supplied weaponry within Russian territory, as reported by CNN. Iryna Vereshchuk, a government minister, shared the news on Facebook with an image of the aftermath of the strike.
The achievement follows US President Joe Biden’s recent authorization for limited strikes by Ukraine using US armaments within Russian territory near Kharkiv. Several European nations also lifted restrictions on the use of these weapons.
The source of the weaponry used in the strike is unclear, leading to speculation about its connection to US-supplied arms. Ukraine had long sought permission from the US to target Russian soil with US weaponry, citing Moscow’s attacks on Kharkiv.
The US approval is subject to strict conditions, limiting Ukraine to targeting areas around Kharkiv with shorter-range missiles. Military experts view this decision as an enhancement rather than a game-changer in Ukraine’s defense strategy.
Despite this development, Ukraine had previously used Western weapons on territories claimed by Russia, such as Crimea and regions like Kharkiv and Kherson. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised Biden’s authorization as crucial for Kharkiv’s defense.
