U.S. authorization for ATACMS strikes limited to Russia's Kursk region

Axios reported the information.

This is the first time Biden has allowed Ukraine to target inside Russia using U.S. Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS). According to a source, the authorization applies specifically to the Kursk region, where North Korean troops have been deployed to support Russia's war efforts.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently sent thousands of soldiers to Kursk, a western Russian region, to aid Putin's forces. Biden's decision, reportedly communicated to Ukraine three days ago, aims to deter Pyongyang from sending more troops and disrupt Russian counterattacks.

"Missiles will speak for themselves," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Sunday address, emphasizing the importance of "long-range capabilities" in Kyiv's victory plan.

Some analysts believe the restriction to the Kursk region is too limited. "Enabling Ukraine to strike high-priority targets throughout Russia could strengthen Kyiv’s position in negotiations," said John Hardie of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has warned that allowing Ukraine to target Russian territory with Western weapons could be seen as NATO's direct involvement in the war.

For now, U.S. officials hope the strikes will send a message to North Korea and undermine Moscow’s military capabilities in Kursk without escalating the conflict further.