White House Confirms Russia Moved Planes Out of ATACMS Range

Russia has its moved its military assets outside the range of Ukraine’s American-made weapons, according to the White House.
Kyiv has continuously sought permission to use US military equipment to strike targets inside Russia, and considers this necessary to fend off the constant aerial attacks on its population. However, the US has held firm in the geographic restrictions, and considers Russia’s recent moves justification for its position.
“90% of the aircraft Russia uses for glide bombs and long-range strikes – we’ve done the math on this – 90% of them lie outside 300km from the Ukrainian border,” National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said during a Wednesday evening press briefing.
Kirby’s comments confirmed an August 27 report by the Wall Street Journal, which claimed, citing an unnamed U.S. official, that Russia had moved the majority of its military aircraft to bases beyond the reach of U.S.-supplied MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).
These systems, manufactured by Lockheed Martin and possessing a maximum range of 190 miles, were first sent to Kyiv in March, and have since been used in attacks on Russian forces within Ukraine’s borders.
However, despite Zelensky’s continuous pleas, the US has refused to greenlight their use for attacks deep inside Russian territory.
In July, Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder told Voice of America that permitting this could result in “unintended consequences,” which could extend the conflict’s boundaries beyond the borders of Ukraine.
Adding to this justification, Kirby argued that, even were the US to assent to Ukraine’s long-range strikes, Russia’s transfer of weapons away from the border would render these largely pointless.
“The argument that somehow if you just give them an ATACM and tell them it’s ok that they’re going to able to go in and hit the majority of the Russian aircraft and airbases that are in fact used to strike them is not true. It’s a misconception.”
His comments came in response to a journalist’s question, which cited the recent attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure as potential justification for a shift in the US position.
In late August, Russia launched an barrage on Ukraine’s power grid, which involved over 100 missiles and was described by Ukrainian officials as one of the largest single assaults since the war began.
This was followed by a missile attack on the Ukrainian city of Poltava on Tuesday, causing at least 51 deaths and 200 injuries.
“Russian strikes will be impossible if it is possible for us to destroy the occupier’s launchers where they are, along with Russian military airfields and logistics,” Zelensky said in an online address following the attack. “Providing Ukraine with such permissions and such weapons is definitely the biggest step towards a real, just end to this war.”
While Kirby condemned the “despicable” attacks on Ukraine’s energy and civilian infrastructure, he refused to announce a shift in the US position.
“Nothing has changed about our policy with respect to long range strikes inside Russia and for Russian territory.”
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