On Monday and Tuesday, Ukrainian drone strikes hit targets deep within Russian territory. The two air bases attacked on Monday are each about 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Tuesday’s target – an air base in Kursk – is about 100 kilometers northeast of Ukraine. Ukrainian shells have penetrated Russia this far since the war began in February.
According to military experts interviewed by Blick, such attacks would have little impact on the war. Nevertheless, they signal a new strategy and willingness on the part of Kiev to raise the bar in the war. Airstrikes from Russia are largely responsible for the destruction of Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.
In large parts of the country, the power and water supply has been seriously damaged. No electricity, no heating, no water – the Russians turn winter into a weapon. The hands of the Ukrainian armed forces are tied with their few short- and medium-range missiles.
Washington is not interfering in Kiev’s weapons program
The state arms company Ukroboronprom is currently conducting final tests with a self-developed attack drone with a range of 1,000 kilometers. It can be assumed that the Ukrainians are under intense pressure to develop their own long-range weapons, as they cannot obtain them from allies such as the US.
The Himars multiple rocket launchers supplied by Washington were also reportedly modified on purpose. A reduced range is intended to limit the scope of application. However, this should not prevent Ukraine from developing its own long-range weapons, as the US military leadership has now confirmed.
During a press conference that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin (69) and US Secretary of Defense Antony Blinken (60) held in Washington on Tuesday, Pentagon chief Austin responded to the question of whether the US is preventing Ukraine from pursuing its own long-term development. develop. pull options: “The short answer is no,” said Austin. “We are absolutely not doing that. We are not working to prevent Ukraine from developing its own capabilities.”
The US does not encourage attacks on Russia
The United States deliberately supplies Ukraine with weapons with a limited attack distance, so that Russia is not directly attacked. Blinken also seems to show some understanding, given the war distress of the people of Ukraine, should Kiev extend the war to Russian positions.
“We have not encouraged or enabled the Ukrainians to attack inside Russia,” the US secretary of state said. “But the most important thing is to understand what Ukrainians go through on a daily basis as a result of the ongoing Russian aggression.” (kes)