US confirms authorizing Ukraine to use ATACMS against Russia

The White House for the first time on Monday publicly acknowledged easing restrictions over Ukraine's use US-supplied longer-range missiles, allowing Kyiv's forces to strike targets deeper inside Russia.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said Washington "did change the guidance" over Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles, "and we gave them guidance that they could use them to strike these particular types of targets."

"Right now, they are able to use ATACMS to defend themselves in an immediate-need basis. And right now, understandably, that's taken place in around Kursk, in the Kursk Oblast," he told reporters, referring to the Russian territory Ukrainian forces have been operating in since August.