Ukraine can now attack Russian mainland... Missile range restrictions lifted by Western countries

Western countries have lifted the range restrictions on missiles provided to Ukraine, making it possible to attack the Russian mainland. A significant change is expected in the Ukraine war, prompting a backlash from Russia.

On the 26th (local time), foreign media such as Financial Times (FT) and AP News reported that Friedrich Merz, the German Chancellor, announced that not only Germany but also the UK, France, and the US have abolished the range restrictions on the missiles provided.

Chancellor Merz stated at a forum hosted by German public broadcaster WDR that lifting the missile range restrictions "means that Ukraine can attack military facilities within Russia, signifying its ability to defend itself."

This statement came amid Russia's recent concentrated attacks on Ukraine with over 1,000 drones and missiles over three days.

Allowing strikes on the Russian mainland contrasts with the stance of former Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who opposed this, and Merz has also expressed willingness to provide Germany's advanced cruise missile, Taurus, which has a maximum range of 500km. The Taurus can strike further than the US ATACMS, the UK's Shadows, and France's Scalps.

These weapons have been used by the Ukrainian military to attack Kursk and Bryansk in eastern Russia. Ukraine is also developing long-range missiles like Neptune, in addition to drones attacking Russian territory.

Earlier this month, Chancellor Merz decided not to disclose the details of military aid to Ukraine, citing the need to prevent Russia from gaining a strategic advantage.

Since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, the German government has intermittently provided military aid to Ukraine, second only to the US. In November last year, the US Biden administration allowed the Ukrainian military to attack the Russian mainland with ATACMS missiles provided by the US, as North Korean forces began to participate in the war.

The Kremlin criticized Chancellor Merz's statement as a very dangerous decision, contrasting with efforts to resolve the issue politically.

jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter