Ukraine’s restrictions on long-range weapons were lifted ‘months ago’, Merz says

The determination to assistance immoderate restrictions connected nan usage of Western-supplied long-range weapons by Ukraine was made months ago, nan German chancellor clarified connected Tuesday.

"In this respect, yesterday successful Berlin, I described thing that has been happening for months: namely, that Ukraine has nan correct to usage nan weapons it receives, moreover beyond its ain borders, against subject targets connected Russian territory," Merz said.

On Monday, nan German chancellor revealed that location are nary longer immoderate restrictions connected nan scope of weapons delivered to Ukraine by Germany, nan US, nan UK and France.

He stated that Ukraine tin now "defend itself, for example, by attacking subject accommodation successful Russia."

"Until recently, it couldn’t do that, and isolated from very fewer exceptions, it hadn't done truthful either."

The German chancellor stressed that while Kyiv is utilizing its weapons to target Russian subject infrastructure, Russia continues to onslaught Ukrainian "cities, kindergartens, hospitals and attraction homes."

"Russia attacks civilian targets wholly ruthlessly, bombing cities, kindergartens, hospitals and aged people's homes - Ukraine doesn't do that."

Russian attacks continue

Ukraine has received ATACMS long-range missiles from nan US, Storm Shadow from nan UK and SCALP from France, but initially it could only usage them against Russian forces connected nan temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

The management of erstwhile US President Joe Biden eased nan restrictions only by nan extremity of 2024. According to aggregate reports, Kyiv was fixed a greenish ray to usage nan US-supplied long-range missiles successful Russia’s Kursk region, wherever nan Russian subject reinforced its troops pinch North Korean soldiers.

But until now Germany had refused to supply Ukraine pinch Taurus cruise missiles. Before coming into office, Merz signalled he would revoke nan prohibition of his predecessor, Olaf Scholz, connected delivering German long-range missiles to Kyiv, tin of striking targets astatine a scope of 500 kilometres.

Russia has antecedently openly threatened that immoderate lifting of restrictions connected long-range weapons would mean warfare pinch NATO.

Commenting connected Merz’s connection connected Monday, nan Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said nan lifting of restrictions was "rather dangerous".

“If specified decisions are made, they will perfectly spell against our aspirations to scope a governmental colony and nan efforts being made wrong nan model of nan settlement,” Peskov said connected Monday, aft 3 consecutive days of Russia’s monolithic attacks connected Ukraine.

From Saturday to Monday, Moscow launched a slew of mixed aerial attacks, firing complete 600 drones and dozens of missiles crossed Ukrainian cities.

In nan largest azygous onslaught of nan much than three-year-long war, Russia launched a grounds number of 355 Shahed-type onslaught drones and decoys on Monday.

Ukraine’s Air Force spokesperson said nan Russian subject has modified its maneuver of drone attacks to bypass aerial defence and origin much damage.

Yurii Ihnat explained that Moscow is now launching its drones astatine precocious altitudes, much than 2 kilometres supra nan ground, and their routes "keep changing".

“At this altitude, they go much visible to our radars, but stay retired of scope of mini arms, dense instrumentality guns and mobile occurrence teams," Ihnat said.