The United States closely monitors as Ukrainian troops advance with weapons supplied by the U.S. towards Russian territories.
According to sources, Ukraine has employed American weaponry and vehicles in their offensive, despite the Biden administration establishing limitations on the use of such equipment against Russia, as reported by two U.S. officials. These boundaries were not disclosed, but it was mentioned that Ukraine has not "technically" violated the stipulations imposed by the United States.
Images portrayed US-made Humvees crossing the Ukrainian-Russian border and entering Russia's Kursk oblast region on Tuesday, as seen in a Reuters photograph.
Ukraine has been using HIMARS rocket launchers in their operations, according to officials. The launchers appear to have remained within Ukrainian territory, while their GMLRS missiles were launched towards Russia.
Thursday saw the Russian Ministry of Defense release drone footage showing a HIMARS rocket-launching vehicle firing missiles just under five miles from the Russia-Ukraine border. The US has not altered its restrictions on the use of long-range ATACMS missiles. Ukraine has deployed these missiles to strike Russian air defense systems positioned in Russian-occupied Crimea.
Despite this, the extent of US-made vehicle usage in the Kursk operation remains unclear. Images purportedly showing a destroyed Ukrainian convoy, including a US-produced Cougar MRAP, have been circulating on pro-Russian Telegram channels. CNN could not verify the exact location of these images.
Officials have reported that Ukraine's military has utilized US-made Stryker combat vehicles, capable of transporting infantry across battlefields. Allegations of a Russian military strike on a US-produced Stryker vehicle in a wooded area were released by the Russian Ministry of Defense, although CNN could not corroborate this claim.
Ukrainian Army Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi stated on Friday that the Ukrainian military has advanced up to 35 kilometers into Russian territory, continuing to advance in certain areas by 1 to 3 kilometers. This offensive has put pressure on Russia, necessitating the deployment of additional troops to combat the ongoing Ukrainian incursion.
"The situation is under control. All operations are being carried out as planned," Syrskyi added.
The US has drawn a boundary north of Ukraine from where Russian forces have been launching attacks, and advised Kyiv to limit the usage of American weapons to this region. The exact location and size of this boundary were not disclosed by the officials. They noted that, because the operation has remained within these boundaries, Ukraine has not "technically" breached the imposed limitations.
The Biden administration has yet to take a public stance on Ukraine's actions, stating only that they will continue to support Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian aggression. The administration has also refused to instruct Kyiv to pull back its forces or have provided them full support for the operation.
Officials have expressed surprise at both Ukraine's success in the offensive and Russia's slow response, signifying the first time Russia has lost sovereign territory since invading Ukraine over two years ago. Russia reportedly diverted thousands of troops away from front-line fighting in occupied Ukraine to address the territorial loss in the Kursk region.
Senior US officials are still seeking to clarify the objectives of Ukraine's offensive, which the latter failed to share prior to its launch. An aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky explained that the incursion aims to instigate a "fair negotiation process" and inflict "significant tactical defeats" on Russia. This action is also intended to impact the Russian population's perceived psychological state, potentially leading to the initiation of negotiations.
Russia's response may be delayed, but officials assert that it is imminent. Ukraine claims to have seized approximately 400 square miles of territory from Russia, causing the Russian authorities to declare emergencies and carry out mass evacuations.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held a conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, on Wednesday, aiming to gather more information about the offensive's objectives, launched over two weeks prior.
When asked about her support for the operation, deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh declined to comment, saying, "What I can tell you is where we are supportive, and that is Ukraine continuing to defend itself."
- The Biden administration's decision to establish limitations on the use of American weaponry against Russia in Ukraine's offensive has been influential in the political landscape, as it highlights the complexity of international relations and geopolitical tensions.
- Controversies in politics often arise when the use of American-made vehicles, such as Stryker combat vehicles, in foreign conflicts becomes a topic of debate, as seen in the ongoing situation between Ukraine and Russia.
