A previously undisclosed Pentagon decision is now restricting Ukraine's ability to strike targets inside Russia using long-range American weaponry.
According to The KYIV Independent, since late spring 2025, the U.S. Department of Defense has directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to approve or deny all Ukrainian proposals for long-range missile strikes into Russia, resulting in multiple denials and limiting Kyiv’s strike options despite recent arms deliveries.
According to an August 23, 2025, report from the Wall Street Journal, the authorization process grants Hegseth the final say over any Ukrainian request to launch long-distance attacks using U.S.-made missiles, specifically Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS. This quietly implemented measure is part of a broader system designed inside the Pentagon that began operating earlier this year. Developed under the guidance of Elbridge Colby, undersecretary for policy, the mechanism has served as a gatekeeper on how Ukraine can deploy premium missile systems provided by the United States and its allies.
Since then, the department has blocked Ukrainian efforts to expand the use of U.S. capabilities against targets located within Russia. At least one such request to launch ATACMS against Russian soil has reportedly been denied under this policy.
Details Emerge About New Pentagon Oversight System
In addition to direct oversight by the defense secretary, Colby’s review mechanism also applies to certain European weapons reliant on U.S. parts or intelligence. Among them are British-supplied Storm Shadow missiles. These weapons incorporate American component technology and targeting support, and therefore fall under the same restrictions. The Pentagon has paired the approval policy with a stock-rating system that helps guide which munitions are available to be sent abroad. This red-yellow-green system catalogs the status of the American weapons inventory. Red-coded systems are considered critical and less likely to be exported, while green implies an available and replenished item.
The ATACMS, which Ukraine initially received in shorter-range variants in 2023, were upgraded to models capable of hitting targets up to 300 kilometers away in spring 2024. However, even the newer models have only been used within Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory due to current U.S. restrictions.
Ukrainian Expansion Requests Met With Resistance
In spring 2025, just before the Department of Defense formalized the review mechanism, Ukraine received its most recent shipment of the upgraded ATACMS. Still, attempts to use those for targets on Russian soil have met consistent resistance from U.S. defense leaders under the current policy structure.
Ukraine has repeatedly sought to expand its target range beyond its national borders to counter missile-launching infrastructure and staging areas used by Russia just across the border. Blocking those requests has become a critical sticking point between Kyiv and Washington in recent months. Facing ongoing limitations, Ukrainian officials have put forward plans to acquire as much as $90 billion in additional American weaponry. Part of a set of proposals designed to secure stronger long-term defense partnerships with the U.S., the potential deal would be financed largely by European partners and is meant to benefit American manufacturing at the same time.
Trump Says Ukraine Needs Offensive Freedom
Amid the evolving debate, President Donald Trump weighed in on the issue during an August 21 appearance. He openly criticized the current administration for what he described as overly cautious battlefield rules. Trump said Ukraine has “no chance of winning” without being allowed to take the fight into Russia, referencing his belief that former President Joe Biden’s previous decision to keep Ukrainian strikes defensive in nature has weakened Kyiv’s war prospects.
Despite the criticism, Trump previously expressed strong opposition to the Biden administration’s limited authorization of long-range attacks using U.S.-supplied weapons. He had said he disagreed “very vehemently” with that decision, reflecting a pattern of mixed signals on how he might handle similar policies.
Officials Predict Possible Shift in U.S. Policy
While current Pentagon policy remains unchanged, Trump’s remarks have sparked speculation that a shift could be on the horizon. A senior U.S. official, speaking with the Wall Street Journal, said that Trump could still reverse course and allow broader offensive actions by Kyiv against Russian forces inside Russia if battlefield conditions or political factors drive change.
For now, however, U.S. officials have emphasized that no new authorizations have been made, and decisions about weapons use continue to pass through the existing Defense Department review channel. Ukraine’s efforts to expand through both military and diplomatic channels remain ongoing. With European funding backing a potential weapons agreement and growing tension about the battlefield balance, further talks between the U.S. and its allies are expected in the weeks ahead.
Restrictions Highlight Tensions Over Battlefield Strategy
The emergence of this controlled approval mechanism reflects growing concern in Washington about escalation risks if Ukrainian strikes into Russia increase. But Kyiv continues to argue that its ability to win the war will remain constrained as long as U.S.-supplied long-range systems can’t be directed at what it views as legitimate Russian military infrastructure.
In the broader context of U.S. involvement, the push-and-pull dynamic between strategic caution and aggressive support for Ukraine underscores the difficulty of balancing global security interests with battlefield efficacy. Whether U.S. policy will shift—and how soon—remains a topic of debate. For now, any change lies in the hands of the defense secretary and ultimately, in the political recalibrations of the American executive branch.
