CaliToday (24/8/2025): The Pentagon has been quietly preventing Ukraine from using U.S.-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles to conduct deep strikes inside Russian territory, according to a recent report from The Wall Street Journal. This strategic limitation is reportedly aimed at managing escalation risks and avoiding a direct, wider conflict between NATO and the Russian Federation.
The Balancing Act of Military Aid
The United States has been a crucial military backer for Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began, providing billions of dollars in aid, including advanced weaponry. Among the most significant systems are the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which are long-range, precision-guided missiles capable of hitting targets up to 300 kilometers (about 190 miles) away.
These missiles provide Ukrainian forces with a critical capability to strike high-value Russian targets far behind the front lines, such as command centers, ammunition depots, airfields, and logistical hubs. However, their delivery has always come with a major concern for Washington: the potential for Ukraine to use them to attack sovereign Russian territory, an action Moscow could interpret as a direct act of war by the U.S.
Behind-the-Scenes Restrictions
According to the Wall Street Journal's report, to mitigate this risk, the Pentagon has imposed restrictions on how Ukraine can deploy the ATACMS. While the specifics of these limitations remain classified, the core intention is to ensure the missiles are used primarily for defensive purposes within Ukraine's internationally recognized borders, including Russian-occupied territories. The restriction is specifically focused on preventing strikes deep inside Russia.
This move highlights the delicate balancing act the Biden administration is performing: providing Ukraine with the powerful tools it needs to defend itself and reclaim its territory, while simultaneously drawing a fine line to prevent the conflict from spiraling into a catastrophic war between nuclear powers.
Strategic Implications
For Ukraine, this limitation presents a strategic challenge. A significant portion of Russia's military infrastructure supporting the war effort—including bases for bombers and missile launch sites—is located within Russia's borders, just beyond Ukraine's reach under these alleged rules. The inability to target these assets directly hampers Ukraine's ability to disrupt Russian military logistics at its source.
This development underscores the complex and often unspoken rules of engagement that govern modern proxy warfare, where the calculations of superpowers can directly influence battlefield realities.
