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Joe Biden has authorised Ukraine’s use of long-range missiles to strike hundreds of miles inside Russia for the first time, according to reports.
The decision is a major US policy shift and comes after Russia warned that Moscow would see the move to allow the use of US-made missiles “as a major escalation”.
With Biden leaving office in two months President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to limit American support for Ukraine and end the war as soon as possible.
In September, Vladimir Putin warned the decision would be an act of war back when reports emerged that Joe Biden was “working out” the possibility of US long-range missiles being used inside Russia.
It came as a “massive” Russian missile attack, dubbed the largest air attack on Ukraine in months, has killed at least seven people and injured at least 19, according to Ukrainian officials.
The strikes targeted vital energy infrastructure as temperatures hit sub-zero in the war-torn country.
The long-range missiles Ukraine could use to strike Russia after Biden decision
He argued the US ban had made it impossible for Ukraine to try to stop Russian attacks on its cities and electrical grids.
My colleague Barney Davis looks closer at the weapons that could mark a turning point in the war:
Namita Singh18 November 2024 04:15
In pictures: Ukraine reels from largest drone attack in months
Alex Croft18 November 2024 04:01
Ukraine responds cautiously to US approval for long-range missile use
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky struck a measured tone in response to the United States’ recent decision to permit the use of long-range missiles.
In his nightly video address, he downplayed public declarations about the development, saying, “Today, much is being said in the media about us receiving permission for the relevant actions. But strikes are not made with words. Such things are not announced. The missiles will speak for themselves.”
The remarks come amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine. Earlier, Mr Zelensky revealed that Russia had unleashed 120 missiles and 90 drones in a large-scale assault across the country. The operation included Iranian-made Shahed drones alongside various types of cruise, ballistic, and aircraft-launched missiles.
Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 144 of the 210 air targets, but significant damage was still inflicted. Mr Zelensky confirmed strikes on energy infrastructure and civilian casualties. “In Mykolaiv, as a result of a drone attack, two people were killed and six others were injured, including two children,” he said.
Namita Singh18 November 2024 03:55
Russia launches one of its fiercest missile and drone attacks at Ukraine’s infrastructure
A Russian strike on a nine-story building in the city of Sumy in northern Ukraine killed eight people and wounded dozens, an official said on Sunday, as Russia launched a massive drone and missile attack described by officials as the largest in recent months.
Among the eight killed in Sumy, 40km from the border with Russia, were two children, said Ukraine’s minister of internal affairs Ihor Klymenko.
More than 400 people were evacuated from the building.
The rescuers were checking every apartment looking for people who might be still in the damaged building.“Every life destroyed by Russia is a big tragedy,” said Mr Klymenko.
The drone and missile attack, which targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, came as fears are mounting about Moscow’s intentions to devastate Ukraine’s power generation capacity ahead of the winter.
Namita Singh18 November 2024 03:39
Mapped: Where has Russia made advances on the frontline in Ukraine?
Mr Trump’s comprehensive victory in the US election, which came off the back of his promises to end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours, has brought into sharp relief the difficult situation on the frontline for Kyiv.
Russian forces have continued to make gains in the eastern region of Donetsk, advancing along several fronts towards the city of Pokrovsk, a linchpin of the wider area’s defence.
Tom Watling reports:
Tom Watling18 November 2024 03:01
Biden urges Xi to dissuade North Korea from supporting Russia’s war
US president Joe Biden urged his Chinese counterpart to dissuade North Korea from further deepening its support for Russia’s war on Ukraine.
The leaders, with top aides surrounding them, met at a Lima hotel on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
Mr Biden wants Mr Xi to step up Chinese engagement to prevent an already dangerous moment with North Korea from further escalating, officials said.
White House officials have expressed frustration with Beijing, which accounts for the vast majority of North Korea’s trade, for not doing more to rein in Pyongyang.
The North Koreans also have provided Russia with artillery and other munitions, according to US and South Korean intelligence officials.
Alex Croft18 November 2024 02:01
Putin’s forces intensify assaults across Ukraine: ‘They don’t care how many men they lose’
The colonel, who has requested not to be named, says both Ukraine and Russia have to take seriously Trump’s campaign promises to quickly end the war, although the president in waiting has not explained how he plans to bring about a ceasefire.
“What is clear,” says the colonel, “is that the Russians want to take as much Ukrainian territory as possible and clear Ukrainian forces out of the Kursk [Russian border] region we occupied in August before any negotiations begin.”
Askold Krushelnycky reports
Askold Krushelnycky18 November 2024 01:02
Two children among 8 dead in strikes on Sumy
Eight people were killed and at least 20 were injured in a Russian missile strike on Sumy on Sunday evening.
A 9-year-old boy and 14-year-old girl were killed in the strikes which led to 20 local residents sought medical help, including three children.
The rocket attack on a densely populated residential neighborhood in the city of Sumy saw at least ten high-rise buildings damaged, as well as vehicles.
Prosecutors in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies are documenting the consequences of the shelling.
Barney Davis18 November 2024 00:07
Young Ukrainian refugees ‘thriving’ and fluent in English after joining Scouts
Two young Ukrainian refugees who were “scared to talk” when starting school in the UK have said joining their local Scout group has helped them to learn English.
Artem Horchuck and Yehor Kremnov, both six, arrived in Gosport, Hampshire, in 2022 after their families fled Ukraine when Russia launched its full-scale invasion.
Since their arrival the pair have started school, joined their local Squirrels group, a younger branch of the Scouts, and are now integrated and thriving in the UK.
“When I started school I was scared to talk as I didn’t know how to talk English,” Artem told the PA news agency.
Artem, who came to Gosport from Ivano-Frankivsk in western Ukraine, met Yehor, from Kyiv, at 6th Gosport Squirrels after their families were both referred by their Ukrainian family support worker.
“England is really quiet. It’s safe here,” Yehor told PA.
“We don’t have rockets or shooting here. I can sleep more here.
“I like the Squirrels as I can learn more English, make friends and have fun.”
Jabed Ahmed18 November 2024 00:03
Putin and Trump are deluded about one another – and Ukraine will pay the price
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin seriously underestimate what the other is capable of and that carries far-ranging risks for Ukraine over Russia’s invasion, Britain’s former spy chief and ex-diplomats have told The Independent.
Trump’s US election victory last week has upended Europe’s plan to back Kyiv for “as long as it takes”. His focus is on ending the war quickly, even if that potentially means pushing Kyiv to cede territory currently occupied by Russia.
Tom Watling reports:
Tom Watling17 November 2024 23:05
