Ukraine may use HIMARS missiles into Russia
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The US has given Ukraine permission to use the American High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) into Russia. This is something Ukraine has been asking for for a long time. The reason why the US now allows this use must be seen in relation to two things. One is the fact that Russia is using North Korean soldiers and missiles against Ukraine. The other is the large-scale Russian attacks with missiles and drones against Ukrainian infrastructure. These attacks have knocked out large parts of the Ukrainian power grid and caused dozens of civilian deaths.
How does Ukraine benefit from HIMARS entering Russia?
For Ukraine, it is important to knock out Russian forces behind the front line. This has become even more relevant now that Russia has picked up several thousand North Korean soldiers. It will also be possible for Ukraine to knock out large Russian depots located far behind the front line. Furthermore, Russian communications will probably be a target for Ukraine to hit. This could make it more difficult for the Russians to communicate at the front.
The Biden administration has long been reluctant to authorize the use of long-range missiles into Russia. The reason for this stance was the danger of the war escalating further. The Biden administration sees North Korea’s participation in the war as an escalation and the USA’s response is to give the green light for the use of HAMAS into Russia.
Biden probably also fears that in a couple of months, when Trump takes over as president, the US will be very reticent about Ukraine’s wishes.
Weapons support in the aftermath
It is fairly typical that Ukraine’s requests for weapons and their use are met long after Ukraine has asked for them. This permission should have come earlier. This has been a consistent problem throughout the war. In fact, Ukraine should have received weapons from the US and Western countries well before the invasion in February 2022. Poor weapons at the time are the main reason why Russia took large areas of Ukraine back then.
There is a high probability that Russia would not have dared to go to war back then if Ukraine had been better equipped. Putin thought he would gain control of Ukraine in a matter of days. He didn’t, and as Ukraine’s weapons have improved, they have also managed to keep the Russians at bay at the front. The USA’s approval of the use of HIMARS is welcome, but it should have come sooner.
Sources:
https://www.ft.com/content/cc565d8e-e5c2-4b04-9b61-b05fb8edcb49