In a major development in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Ukrainian forces claimed to have successfully targeted a Russian S-300 missile system within Russian territory using Western-supplied weapons. Ukrainian government minister Iryna Vereshchuk took to Facebook to share the news, stating, "It burns beautifully. It's a Russian S-300. On Russian territory. The first days after permission to use Western weapons on enemy territory."

This incident comes shortly after US President Joe Biden granted Ukraine permission to carry out limited strikes using US weapons on Russian territory near Kharkiv. Several European nations had also lifted restrictions on the use of these weapons. However, it is unclear if the weapons used in the strike reported by Vereshchuk were US-supplied.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Biden's decision as a positive step towards defending the embattled Kharkiv region. Nevertheless, some analysts have raised doubts about whether these new freedoms will significantly enhance Ukraine's ability to repel Russia's invasion.

Military experts have tempered expectations, citing limitations on the type of ammunition Ukraine is allowed to use in Russian territory. The US has not authorized the use of its long-range missiles, known as ATACMS, which have the capability to hit targets up to 300 kilometers away. Instead, Ukraine can only employ shorter-range missiles called GMLRS, with a range of around 70 kilometers.

While this marks the removal of a previous limitation, it is worth noting that Ukraine has already conducted strikes using Western-supplied weapons on the territory claimed by Russia. Ukrainian forces have frequently targeted occupied Crimea, using "Storm Shadow" missiles provided by the UK. In late 2022, Ukraine also launched strikes on Kharkiv and Kherson in an attempt to liberate regions occupied by Russia during the early stages of the conflict.

The international community continues to closely monitor the situation, as tensions between Ukraine and Russia remain high. The use of Western-supplied weapons by Ukraine on Russian soil represents a significant development in the conflict, with implications for the ongoing territorial disputes and the overall balance of power in the region.