This story at a glance…

1. The U.S. approved long-range Ukrainian missile strikes inside Russia.

2. Ukraine can now target deeper Russian and North Korean-backed positions.

3. Moscow warns this move heightens risks of U.S. involvement.

4. Analysts say the strikes may not change the war’s course.

New U.S. Policy Expands Ukraine’s Range

Ukraine is now authorized to carry out missile strikes deep into Russian territory with U.S.-provided weapons. The decision marks a significant shift in American policy and comes after months of lobbying by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. Facing mounting pressure on its front lines, Ukraine sought the U.S.’s approval to use advanced Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which can target key Russian installations as far as 190 miles away. The first strikes, Zelensky hinted, will come swiftly and without warning, stating, “Blows are not inflicted with words… The rockets will speak for themselves.”

The ATACMS missiles grant Ukraine access to Russian military positions, including garrisons, logistical hubs, and depots that had previously been unreachable. Ukrainian officials hope these attacks will disrupt Russian military operations, especially in areas that support Russia's advances into Ukrainian territory. This policy change signals that Ukraine will be striking not only Russian military posts but also those reinforced by foreign support troops, a growing concern for the U.S. and its allies.

Rising Threats Prompt Policy Shift
One factor behind this policy change is the recent arrival of up to 10,000 North Korean troops sent to aid Russian forces. These troops are primarily located in the Russian Kursk region, where Ukraine has made territorial gains. This North Korean support has broadened the war’s scope, drawing in international actors and raising concerns among the United States and its European allies. In response, the Biden administration, which had previously resisted such an escalation, decided to authorize the use of ATACMS missiles on Russian soil, hoping to curtail foreign intervention on Russia’s behalf.

American officials hope that allowing Ukraine to target North Korean positions might dissuade Pyongyang from deeper involvement. The missile strikes could hinder the supply chains, equipment, and ammunition storage sites supporting Russian and North Korean troops near the conflict zones.

Limited Impact on the Battlefield?
Military analysts suggest this decision, while symbolically significant, may come too late to alter the war’s overall direction. Russia has advanced at its fastest pace in months, capturing ground and forcing Ukraine to redeploy its troops to critical areas. “The decision comes late, and like other decisions in this vein, it may be too late to substantially change the course of the fighting,” said Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. While Ukrainian forces now have expanded capabilities, analysts caution that the ATACMS range won’t cover many of Russia’s repositioned military assets, limiting the impact of these strikes.

The ATACMS approval comes amid grim conditions for Ukraine. Recent Russian missile attacks have hit both military and civilian areas, including a daylight strike on Odesa that killed at least eight people and another in Sumy that claimed eleven lives. On the streets of Kyiv, reactions were mixed. Some Ukrainians voiced frustration over what they saw as delayed support, noting that earlier authorization could have mitigated some of Russia’s recent advances.

Russian Reaction and Fears of Escalation
The Kremlin responded sharply to the U.S. policy change, warning that it could bring the U.S. closer to direct involvement in the conflict. Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesperson, stated, “This escalates tensions to a qualitatively new level,” adding that Russia views these strikes as possible evidence of NATO participation in the war. He further argued that Ukraine could not carry out such strikes without guidance from Western allies, which would pull NATO countries into a more active role in the conflict. Moscow has voiced growing concerns that the long-range strikes could tip the scale toward broader involvement by NATO nations.

Meanwhile, some analysts see this shift as complicating matters for the incoming U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump, who has pledged to end the war quickly. Russian officials have suggested that this new approval leaves Trump’s team with the challenge of managing escalating tensions with Moscow. Leonid Slutsky, the head of Russia’s Foreign Affairs Committee, stated that the U.S. decision would “leave Trump’s team not only the problem of solving the Ukrainian conflict, but an even bigger one: prevention of a global standoff.”

The Uncertain Road Ahead
As Kyiv prepares to initiate these strikes, the uncertainty remains as to how long this authorization will stand. France and the United Kingdom have yet to indicate if they will allow Ukraine to use similar long-range missile systems. While some Western allies are supportive, other nations remain cautious, worried that these strikes could prompt a severe Russian response. Military experts say that Ukraine’s ability to hold ground in Kursk may depend heavily on the supply and accuracy of these missiles, especially as Russian forces bolster defenses and relocate military assets out of reach.

Reflection
In times of conflict and hardship, resilience becomes a source of strength, helping individuals and nations press on in hope. As Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." Even when challenges surround us, God’s presence sustains and uplifts. May we pray for those affected by war and conflict around the world, asking that they find hope in their trials and the courage to endure through faith.