Biden authorizes Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike Russia’s Kursk region — The New York Times

U.S. President Joe Biden has granted Ukraine permission to use its long-range ATACMS missiles to defend Ukrainian Armed Forces units operating in Russia’s Kursk region, The New York Times reported on Sunday, citing government sources.

France and the United Kingdom have also authorized Ukraine to use their SCALP and Storm Shadow long-range missiles for strikes on Russian territory, Le Figaro wrote.

Update: Le Figaro reported this in an article on November 17 but later removed the information. However, references to SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles remain in the description of the publication’s video segment on Biden’s ATACMS decision.

According to sources speaking to the NYT, the decision to approve ATACMS use came in response to the deployment of North Korean military personnel in Russia’s Kursk region. The move is reportedly meant to convey to North Korea that its troops in the Kursk region are vulnerable, in hopes of discouraging Pyongyang from sending additional forces to support Russia. However, the sources don’t believe this policy shift will significantly impact the overall trajectory of the war.

The sources also highlighted a division among Biden’s advisers over the use of ATACMS on Russian soil. For now, the authorization is limited to targets in the Kursk region, though Biden may later allow Ukraine to expand missile use to other areas.

Reuters sources said that the Ukrainian military plans to deploy these missiles soon.