Despite this groundbreaking policy change, there’s a substantial restriction. While the ATACMS possess deep-strike capabilities within Russia, Ukraine is restrained and cannot target at will.

The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), made by Lockheed Martin, is famed for its extensive reach.

These missiles can cover 190 miles at supersonic speed and are owned by multiple nations, including the US, Australia, South Korea, Morocco, Romania, Greece, Turkey, Poland, Ukraine, and the UAE.

Introduced in the 1980s, ATACMS have seen action during the Gulf and Iraq Wars. Each unit comes with a hefty price tag of £1.2 million.

Even though the US has relaxed restrictions on using ATACMS for targets beyond Ukraine‘s borders, Zelensky isn’t given carte blanche to command strikes as far as Moscow.

Firstly, the Russian capital is probably just beyond the reach of these missiles. Additionally, Washington has imposed restrictions on where Ukraine can target Russia using these missiles.

These restrictions confine Kyiv to defending Ukrainian positions in Kursk – the region of Russia currently under its control. As per the most recent live frontline maps, Ukrainian forces remain in Russia, albeit only a few miles into Russian territory.

Ukraine is permitted to use the missiles to defend its positions there, thereby securing its foothold in Russia, but it is not allowed to launch strikes into unoccupied Russian land.