Ukraine hands over to US list of possible targets on Russian territory

According to the Russian newspaper Svoboda, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed previous media reports and stated that, during his visit to Washington, he proposed to senior representatives of the US administration a list of targets deep inside Russian territory that Kiev wanted to attack with Western-made long-range missiles, primarily American ATACMS missiles.

On August 26, Politico reported that during their visit to Washington, Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov and Ukrainian Presidential Chief of Staff Andrei Ermak will hand over to the US a list of possible targets for an attack on Russia. Although the US has allowed Ukraine to use weapons it has supplied in the border area with Russia, it still maintains a ban on using long-range weapons in attacks. Ukraine asserts that such attacks are necessary to eliminate Russia's advantage in long-range weapons and air power.

Minister Umerov, who met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin a day earlier in Washington, said in an interview with CNN that during his meeting with US officials, the lifting of restrictions was discussed and in this context, a list of potential targets was handed over to the US.

“We have explained the necessary measures to protect citizens from Russian attack, so I hope that we have been listened to,” Mr. Umerov said, referring in particular to military airports.

In April 2024, it was reported that the US had transferred ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 km to Ukraine. They were used only to attack Crimea and other territories controlled by Russia. Ukraine launched attacks on airfields located behind Russian lines, but with the help of its own drones, not US missiles.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has frequently called on Western countries to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons to attack Russian territory. He repeated his call on August 26, after a major Russian offensive in Ukraine damaged several energy facilities.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Patrick Ryder said at a press briefing on August 27 that Ukraine could “fire back” at Russia. “But when it comes to long-range strikes deep into Russian territory, our policy has not changed,” Ryder said.

Politico writes that the White House remains concerned that authorizing long-range strikes against Russia could provoke the Kremlin into even more aggressive action. Moscow has said it would view such an action as an escalation and has warned of an appropriate response.

The head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andrei Ermak, who accompanied Mr. Umerov on his visit to Washington, met in Washington with US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien. In particular, they discussed Russia's shelling of energy facilities in Ukraine, as well as the needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the tightening of sanctions against Russia.

“Sanctions are costly for the Russian economy, but this is not enough. We must continue to tighten sanctions restrictions,” Mr. Yermak stressed.