No change in White House policy against using U.S. weapons for deep-strike missions in Russia

After two ballistic missiles killed more than 50 people at a military academy and hospital in the eastern Ukrainian city of Poltava, the Defense Department on Tuesday said the Biden administration hasn’t changed its policy restricting the use of American-provided weapons against deep-strike targets inside Russia.

Ukrainian officials said more than 200 people were injured when the missiles struck the main building of the Poltava Military Institute of Communications and a nearby hospital. The academy’s main building collapsed in one of the deadliest Russian strikes since the war began.

“People were trapped under the rubble. Many people were rescued, but more than 180 were injured,” Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday on his Telegram social media page. “We know that (51) people were killed. My deepest condolences to all of their relatives and loved ones.”

The time between the air raid alarm and the impact of the deadly rockets was so short that several people were injured before they could make it to a bomb shelter, Ukrainian officials said.

“The Russian scum will surely pay for this strike. We continue to urge everyone in the world who has the power to stop this terror. Ukraine needs air defense systems and missiles now, not sitting in storage,” Mr. Zelenskyy said.

For months, Mr. Zelenskyy has pleaded with the U.S. — his leading international patron — for permission to use U.S.-supplied weapons, such as the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), against military targets deep inside Russia. The White House has refused, citing the Biden administration’s intention not to escalate the fighting.

“As it relates to our long-range strike policy, I don’t have any announcements to make in terms of a change in policy,” Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, told reporters on Tuesday.

Ukrainian military officials said the Russians attacked them with two 9K720 Iskander missiles. It is a mobile system that has a range of about 300 miles.

“I ordered a full and prompt investigation into all of the circumstances of what happened. All necessary services are involved in the rescue operation,” Mr. Zelenskyy said.

Gen. Ryder said he didn’t have information about a launch site for the latest Iskander missile attack.

“These are Russian missile attacks (that) demonstrate the brutality and the viciousness of these assaults,” he said. “We have been working very diligently for a very long time with the international community (to provide) capabilities for Ukraine.”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with his Ukrainian counterparts later this week at Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

“We’ll be very focused on better understanding Ukraine’s security assistance needs and how best to meet them,” Gen. Ryder said. “We continue to consult regularly with our Ukrainian counterparts on their security assistance needs and ensure they have what they need to defend themselves.”