In a major turning point in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian forces have been granted permission by the United States and other allies to strike inside Russia's own territory. The newly acquired Western weapons have had a significant impact in weakening Russian aggression and providing Ukrainian forces with the means to effectively counterattack.

Bankir, a senior officer in Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), expressed the positive outcomes of this permission, stating, "We have destroyed targets inside Russia, which allowed for several successful counteroffensives. The Russian military can no longer feel impunity and security." This development marks a shift in the balance of power on the Ukrainian front lines.

For months, Kyiv had been facing ammunition and manpower shortages, hindering their ability to effectively defend against Russian attacks. However, with Western military aid finally reaching Ukraine last month, soldiers on the front lines are reporting improvements and tangible results. The arsenal provided through this aid has allowed Ukrainian forces to strike at certain military targets across the border, threatening Russia's offensive in Ukraine.

Soldiers on the ground, such as Ivan from the 148th artillery brigade, have witnessed the impact of this aid firsthand. Ivan stated, "We are deploying the most effective weapons systems in the areas where the Russians are trying to break through the defensive lines, and there has been a significant slowdown in the Russian advance." The increased firepower has bolstered Ukraine's defensive capabilities and dealt a blow to Russian aggression.

While Ukraine has not yet been able to reclaim large portions of its territory, it has managed to avert a potential disaster: the occupation of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Russia initially gained control over part of the northern Kharkiv region during its full-scale invasion in February 2022. The subsequent liberation of the area revealed evidence of war crimes committed by Russian forces, including mass graves and torture chambers.

However, in May 2023, Russia mounted another cross-border attack on the region, hoping to exploit Ukraine's ammunition shortages before Western weapons arrived. The consequences were disastrous, with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reporting a significant increase in civilian casualties. More than half of these casualties occurred in Kharkiv, despite its relatively small size compared to the whole country.

The re-occupation of previously liberated areas north of Kharkiv was a tragic moment for Ukraine. However, it also served as a catalyst for change, prompting Ukraine's Western partners to partially remove restrictions on the use of Western weapons. Previously, Ukraine was prohibited from striking inside Russia, allowing Russia to use border areas as staging grounds for offensives and missile attacks.

With the restrictions lifted, Ukraine has successfully targeted and destroyed key Russian military infrastructure inside Russia. Ukrainian defense authorities have reported strikes on a regiment command post in Belgorod region, an ammunition depot in Voronezh, a drone facility and airfield in Krasnodar, communication centers in Bryansk, and several naval sites in occupied Crimea. These strikes have been made more efficient with the arrival of long-range ATACMS missile systems, providing Ukraine with an advantage and reducing the reaction time for Russian forces.

Moreover, Ukrainian forces have managed to push back the Russian S-300 missile system, which was previously targeting Kharkiv. The use of HIMARS strikes in the Belgorod region compelled the Russians to deploy their S-300 system further away, rendering it unable to threaten Kharkiv. While Russia has switched to aerial glide bombs, which are out of the range of Ukraine's air defenses, eliminating the S-300 threat has provided some relief for Kharkiv.

Despite these developments, Ukraine recognizes that more needs to be done to turn the tide completely in their favor. Senator, an officer from the 148th separate artillery brigade, emphasized that while the new weapons help hold back the enemy, they are not enough to dramatically change the situation, particularly given Russia's complete air superiority.

The granting of permission for Ukraine to strike inside Russia and the subsequent Western military aid have marked a turning point in the conflict. Ukraine is armed with the means to strike back and defend its territory more effectively. The hope is that these developments will help stabilize the situation and bring Ukraine closer to reclaiming its lost lands.