A senior Ukrainian military commander has blamed US-imposed restrictions on the use of advanced weaponry for a stalled offensive against Russian forces. Operating near the Russian border, the commander—known as Drago from Ukraine’s Kraken detachment—revealed that his unit was unable to launch preemptive attacks on Russian troops amassing across the border due to US policy.
“There were a lot of Russians gathering, and we could have destroyed them on the way in, but we don’t have many ATACMS, and we have a ban on using them over there,” Drago told The Times of London. The US has long prohibited the use of its supplied weaponry, such as ATACMS missiles, for strikes inside Russian territory, aiming to avoid escalating the conflict.
The US policy, designed to prevent a wider confrontation, has significant tactical implications. Drago lamented, “We had to wait for them to cross.” This rule has had grave consequences. On May 10, Russian forces encircled Drago’s unit and launched an ambush, leading to a fierce battle where Drago had to call in artillery to repel the attackers, resulting in casualties on both sides.
Oleksandr Lytvynenko, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, described the US policy as “absolutely unfair,” emphasizing the strategic limitations it imposes. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy echoed these concerns, arguing that the inability to target Russian military positions inside Russia gives the Kremlin a substantial advantage.
Despite ongoing negotiations to lift these restrictions, Ukraine has yet to see positive outcomes. The US and other Western countries continue to provide substantial military aid to Ukraine, yet they draw a firm line at allowing Ukrainian forces to use these weapons to strike within Russian territory.
Russian troops punched across the border between Russia and Ukraine this month and pushed toward Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, which has a population of about 1 million people. Military analysts say Russia lacks the troops to capture the city but could advance to within artillery range, touching off a larger flow of refugees.
Relevant articles:
– A Ukrainian commander had Russian troops in his sights but couldn’t attack. He says a US rule is to blame., Business Insider, 05/23/2024
– Under Relentless Russian Assault, Ukraine Adopts a Defensive Crouch, Yahoo News UK, 05/22/2024
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