President Joe Biden has for the first time authorised Ukraine to use US-supplied long-range missiles for strikes inside Russia, according to US media reports.
The White House or Pentagon have not yet confirmed the reports.
It comes as Russia deployed nearly 50,000 troops to Kursk, the southern Russian region where Kyiv launched its surprise counteroffensive in the summer preparing to take back territory.
Thousands of North Korean troops have also been deployed as part of the offensive, sparking concern that their entry could lead to a new phase in the war.
The decision to allow use of the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, inside Russia had been under consideration for months.
American officials have previously been divided. Some had concerns about escalating the war, while others worried about diminishing stockpiles of the weapons.
The US refused to provide ATACMS to Ukraine for the first two years of the war, partly because of readiness concerns as the powerful missiles require time and complex components to produce.
But Biden approved the transfer of the long-range ATACMS missiles in February for use inside Ukrainian territory, and the US delivered the missiles in April.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had been pressing Washington to allow use of the weapons inside Russia, arguing he needed the capability to gain momentum in his war effort.
Zelenskyy responded to the reports on Sunday, saying that "missiles speak for themselves" and "such things are not announced".
"The plan to strengthen Ukraine is the Victory Plan, which I presented to our partners. One of its key points is long-range capabilities for our army.
"Today, there’s a lot of talk in the media about us receiving permission for respective actions. But strikes are not carried out with words. Such things are not announced. Missiles will speak for themselves. They certainly will," he said.
President Vladimir Putin in September warned the West that Russia could use nuclear weapons if it was struck with conventional missiles, and that Moscow would consider any assault supported by a nuclear power to be a joint attack.
The reports come as Russia launched massive attack against Ukraine's energy grid on Sunday as the gruelling war enters its 1,000th day.
On November 17, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that Russia had launched 120 missiles and 90 drones in the most powerful attack in three months.
Four people have been confirmed to have died so far as a result of the attack with six people injured, including two children.
Indeed. Continued appeasement to the Russian dictator only prolonged and escalated the conflict, at a point where even North Korean slave soldiers are joining Russia's expansionist war of aggression. Having Ukraine defend itself with one hand tied to its back only resulted in needless losses.
A pity they had to announce it first tough, allowing the Russians to do things like moving its fighters and bombers to safer distances
Indeed. Continued appeasement to the Russian dictator only prolonged and escalated the conflict, at a point where even North Korean slave soldiers are joining Russia's expansionist war of aggression. Having Ukraine defend itself with one hand tied to its back only resulted in needless losses.
A pity they had to announce it first tough, allowing the Russians to do things like moving its fighters and bombers to safer distances
Hopefully we'll start seeing reports indicating the first usage of missiles happened before the official announcement was made for operational security reasons.
wautd wrote: ↑2024-11-18 03:23amNorth Korean slave soldiers
Ooooh, so edgy.
You don't think that's not how Putin is going to treat them? Like the prisoners they 'recruited'? Toss them into the meat grinder and hope they clog it up?
I've been asked why I still follow a few of the people I know on Facebook with 'interesting political habits and view points'.
It's so when they comment on or approve of something, I know what pages to block/what not to vote for.
wautd wrote: ↑2024-11-18 03:23amNorth Korean slave soldiers
Ooooh, so edgy.
You don't think that's not how Putin is going to treat them? Like the prisoners they 'recruited'? Toss them into the meat grinder and hope they clog it up?
wautd wrote: ↑2024-11-18 03:23amNorth Korean slave soldiers
Ooooh, so edgy.
How else would you describe them then? Do you think they get paid or have a choice to be there?
I have no reason to believe they are not paid (do you for some reason believe that North Korea doesn't have money or that members of the largest and most powerful institution in the country don't receive any of it?). I expect they were ordered to go there and would have been punished if they refused, but that's pretty standard for how militaries work. They are likely conscripts, though given that some of them are supposedly special forces and the rest are presumably considered model troops who could be counted on to not embarass the country they probably have more leeway than most.
Let's be honest: it's over in two months. Ukraine is about to be served up to Russia on a platter by the asset with the codename Donny Jingles. Might as well help them give Putin a bloody nose in that time, maybe slightly blunt his ability to carry out any other cute ideas in the near future.
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? Y'know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! Y'know, I just do things..." --The Joker
Let's be honest: it's over in two months. Ukraine is about to be served up to Russia on a platter by the asset with the codename Donny Jingles. Might as well help them give Putin a bloody nose in that time, maybe slightly blunt his ability to carry out any other cute ideas in the near future.
Trump said he'd sort it out within 24 hours, but neither he or any of his supporters have got a fucking clue. Looks like Trump's legacy will be the president who lost Ukraine.
EnterpriseSovereign wrote: ↑2024-11-19 02:32pm
Trump said he'd sort it out within 24 hours, but neither he or any of his supporters have got a fucking clue. Looks like Trump's legacy will be the president who lost Ukraine.
There is zero doubt in my mind that he will manage to end the war within 24 hours of actually taking office in January. We all know exactly how he means to do it: By cutting off all support immediately, before calling Putin for his next set of orders. He's not going to lose Ukraine, he's going to give it away.
"Do I really look like a guy with a plan? Y'know what I am? I'm a dog chasing cars. I wouldn't know what to do with one if I caught it! Y'know, I just do things..." --The Joker
EnterpriseSovereign wrote: ↑2024-11-19 02:32pm
Trump said he'd sort it out within 24 hours, but neither he or any of his supporters have got a fucking clue. Looks like Trump's legacy will be the president who lost Ukraine.
There is zero doubt in my mind that he will manage to end the war within 24 hours of actually taking office in January. We all know exactly how he means to do it: By cutting off all support immediately, before calling Putin for his next set of orders. He's not going to lose Ukraine, he's going to give it away.
That sounds exactly like something Trump would do within 24 hours, however if he thinks the war will end then he's even more dementia-ridden than we've already seen.
Why is the media calling ATACMS (+-300 km range?) a long range missile, while Russian medium range ballistic missiles (5000 km range) not? Doesn't that actually helps Russian propaganda?
