Ukraine eyes 261 Russian targets pending Western approval

Ukraine may target 261 military sites if allies lift restrictions on strikes deep within the Russian Federation, reports "Der Spiegel." The list supposedly includes facilities whose destruction would compromise military logistics.

According to the publication, the list features large weapons depots, air bases, and Russian army training grounds. Targeting these facilities would complicate Russian military logistics.

For several months, Ukraine has increasingly boldly conducted attacks on military targets deep within Russia, primarily using drones. The country's authorities are seeking Western approval to use long-range weapons.

Zelensky has repeatedly appealed to Americans for permission to use Western weapons more extensively in the conflict with Russia. Addressing allies' concerns about escalation leading to nuclear war, Zelensky remarked that the United States "should believe in Ukraine more."

"Without the help of the United States, Ukraine will not be able to win the war with Russia. We expect Washington to allow us to use American weapons for attacks on targets deep within Russia," Zelensky said in early September.

Allies, particularly the United States, not only fear potential escalation but also seem unconvinced about the effectiveness of such actions. In early September, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin noted that Russians had moved guided aerial bombs out of the range of ATACMS systems.

There is also uncertainty about whether the equipment Ukraine possesses would be sufficient to destroy Russian bases.

The United Kingdom and France support the unrestricted use of long-range missiles and have provided Ukraine with Storm Shadow missiles capable of flying 155 miles. However, they have not convinced Joe Biden, whose opinion is decisive.

Russia will be ready to use the most powerful and destructive weapons in response to attacks with Western long-range weapons on Russian Federation territory, warned Vyacheslav Volodin, the Chairman of the State Duma.

By requesting the United States, Germany, France, and England to supply long-range weapons, missiles, and other equipment and discussing with them the issue of conducting strikes on Russian territory, Zelensky makes these countries direct participants in the armed conflict in Ukraine, he added.

Source: "Der Spiegel," WP Wiadomości