US President Joe Biden has authorized Ukraine to use American-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia, but only in the vicinity of the Kharkiv region, according to US officials. In recent weeks, Russian forces have made significant advances in Kharkiv after launching a surprise offensive near the Russian border.
On Friday, Ukrainian officials reported that three people were killed and 16 injured when Russian shelling hit a residential building in a suburb of Kharkiv city. The White House and State Department have not provided any comments on the situation.
Earlier, the UK indicated a willingness to ease restrictions on how Ukraine could utilize Western-supplied weapons. Despite concerns that this could further escalate the conflict, several European leaders have also recently called for relaxing these restrictions.
Washington, which supplies the majority of Ukraine’s weaponry, had previously resisted easing these restrictions due to fears of escalation. However, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken hinted at a policy shift during a visit to Moldova on Wednesday. “At every step along the way, we’ve adapted and adjusted as necessary,” he said. “And so that’s exactly what we’ll do going forward.”
Russian forces have recently taken advantage of a strategic opportunity to advance deeper into Ukrainian territory in Kharkiv as Kyiv awaits further Western weapon supplies.
Last week, at least 12 people were killed and dozens wounded when Russian forces hit a supermarket in Kharkiv with two glide bombs. Early on Friday, Kharkiv regional governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on Telegram that Russian shelling struck a five-story apartment building in the Novobavarskyi District of Kharkiv, causing part of the building to collapse and igniting a fire.
Syniehubov stated that at least three people were killed and 16 injured, including a 12-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl who were hospitalized. He accused Russian forces of targeting “exclusively civilian infrastructure” and employing a “double-strike tactic,” hitting the site a second time after paramedics and rescue workers had arrived.