American weapons were deployed in strikes inside Russia, following new guidelines approved by President Joe Biden. These guidelines permit the use of U.S. arms for the specific purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city.

An anonymous source, who was not authorized to publicly comment, did not disclose the exact locations in Russia targeted by these strikes.

Biden’s directive allows Ukrainian forces to use U.S.-supplied weapons against Russian forces that are attacking or preparing to attack.

However, this does not alter the U.S. policy that prohibits Ukraine from using American-supplied ATACMS missiles or other long-range munitions for strikes within Russian territory, as confirmed by U.S. officials.

Ukrainian officials have been urging the U.S. to permit defensive actions against attacks originating from Russia. Kharkiv, situated only 20 kilometers from the Russian border, has faced intense bombardment from Russian forces.

Russian troops advancing in the northeastern Kharkiv region have taken advantage of delays in the resupply of U.S. military aid. Additionally, insufficient military production in Western Europe has slowed the delivery of crucial battlefield supplies to Ukraine.

A report from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) on June 3 revealed that Ukrainian forces struck a Russian S-300/400 air defense battery in the Belgorod region, likely using the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) on June 1 or 2.

The air defense system was positioned about 60 kilometers from the current front line in northern Kharkiv and over 80 kilometers from the city of Kharkiv, within HIMARS range, according to ISW.

This confirmation coincided with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Qatar, which, along with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, has played a crucial role in mediating prisoner exchanges and other negotiations between Russia and Ukraine since the war began.