Kyiv renews call for deeper strikes into Russia

KYIV — Ukraine renewed its call on Western allies Saturday for permission to strike deeper into Russian territory, following a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer that failed to yield a policy shift on long-range weaponry.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Andriy Yermak emphasized the need for broader strike permissions, stating, “Russian terror begins at weapons depots, airfields, and military bases inside the Russian Federation. Permission to strike deep into Russia will speed up the solution.”

The appeal comes amid continued Russian drone and artillery attacks on Ukraine. Ukrainian officials have urged allies to permit the use of Western long-range weapons to target deeper into Russia, beyond the current limitations imposed by the U.S., which restrict their use to areas close to the Ukrainian border.

The discussions regarding long-range strikes were part of the agenda during the Biden-Starmer meeting in Washington on Friday, but no immediate decisions were announced. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been advocating for extended use of Western weapons to counter Russia’s intensified attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure ahead of winter.

Zelenskyy reported that more than 70 Russian drones were launched into Ukraine overnight, with the Ukrainian air force intercepting 72 out of 76 drones detected. He reiterated the need for enhanced air defense and long-range capabilities to protect Ukrainian civilians.

Other attacks overnight included artillery fire that killed one person and injured seven in Ukraine’s Sumy region, targeting energy infrastructure. In Kharkiv, a KAB aerial bomb fell on a garage complex, but no injuries were reported.

In Moscow, Russian officials warned that long-range strikes would escalate tensions between Russia and the West. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused the U.S. and Britain of driving the conflict toward uncontrolled escalation. Despite these warnings, President Biden dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s threats as insignificant. — Agencies