For the first time, Biden has authorized Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles for strikes deep within Russian territory.

President Biden has authorized Ukraine to use long-range missiles provided by the United States for strikes against Russia for the first time, according to U.S. officials.

The weapon is likely to be initially deployed against Russian and North Korean troops to protect Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.

Source. This was reported by The New York Times, citing officials from the White House.

Biden's decision marks a significant shift in U.S. policy.

According to officials, allowing Ukrainians to utilize long-range missiles known as ATACMS was a response to Russia's unexpected decision to deploy North Korean forces into combat.

In a bid to assist Ukrainians in defending Kharkiv, Biden previously permitted the use of HIMARS, which have a range of approximately 80 km, against Russian troops directly near the border. However, he did not allow the Armed Forces of Ukraine to use ATACMS, which have a range of about 30 km, for protecting Ukrainian border towns.

While officials state that they believe this authorization will not fundamentally alter the course of the war, one of the policy change's objectives, according to them, is to send a message to the North Koreans that their forces are vulnerable and that they should not send additional troops to assist Russia.

Officials say that although Ukrainians are likely to first use the missiles against Russian and North Korean troops in the Kursk region, Biden has allowed them to employ this weapon in other locations as well.

The Russian military intends to launch a major offensive with approximately 50,000 soldiers, including North Korean troops, against Ukrainian positions in Kursk in an effort to reclaim all Russian territory captured by Ukrainians in August.

Ukrainians could use ATACMS to strike at concentrations of Russian and North Korean forces, key military equipment, logistics hubs, ammunition depots, and supply lines deep within Russia.

This could help Ukrainians diminish the effectiveness of the Russian-North Korean offensive, the publication notes.