In a recent development, Ukraine has reportedly launched a missile attack on the occupied eastern Luhansk region, using U.S.-supplied missiles, according to a Kremlin-installed official. Anna Romanova, the press secretary to Leonid Pasechnik, the Moscow-appointed head of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic, confirmed that the attack took place on Friday.

Romanova stated that the Ukrainian Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) attack caused damage to civilian infrastructure and resulted in at least 22 injuries. She added that although most of the missiles were intercepted by air defenses, there was still significant harm done to the area.

The Luhansk and Donetsk regions, which make up the Donbas area, have been enduring constant shelling, as forces supported by Moscow aim to make significant gains in eastern Ukraine. Since Russia's invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2014, the Kremlin has been striving to capture the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and has been slowly advancing in these areas amidst the ongoing full-scale war that began in 2022.

It is worth noting that the U.S. recently clandestinely sent ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, capable of hitting targets nearly 200 miles away. These missiles have been utilized by the Ukrainian military on Russian targets in contested territory, including Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

Romanova revealed that at least six ATACMS missiles were fired at civilian targets in Luhansk. The authenticity of social media videos showing the aftermath of the strikes has not been independently verified. Newsweek has reached out to Russia's Defense Ministry for comment on the incident.

Local Ukrainian media reported that the attack targeted an oil depot in the Luhansk region. It is important to note that while the U.S. granted Ukraine permission on May 30 to use certain American-supplied weapons to strike targets in Russia, the use of ATACMS missiles outside of Ukraine remains prohibited. A U.S. official told Newsweek that Ukraine may only use these weapons in Russian territory neighboring northeast Ukraine for the purpose of defending its Kharkiv region.

On Thursday, U.S. Representative Mike Turner, the Ohio Republican who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, expressed his concerns in a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Turner urged the Biden administration to lift any ban on ATACMS and other long-range U.S.-supplied weapons to Ukraine, stating that restricting Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian attacks is not acceptable.

The escalation of tensions in the Russia-Ukraine war highlights the need for further international attention. Newsweek encourages its readers to share any tips or information related to world news stories or questions regarding the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine by reaching out to worldnews@newsweek.com.

Please note: All information provided in this article is based on the accounts of the Kremlin-installed official and Ukrainian media reports.