The top commander of Ukraine has hinted that Ukrainian-made weapons may soon be used in strikes against Russian territory.
General Valery Zaluzhny, commander in chief of Ukraine, recently spoke with the Washington Post. In the interview, he defended his army’s ability to launch attacks against Russian territory using homegrown weapons and lamented the red lines that the AFU’s western partners had placed on it.
Why do I need permission to act on enemy land in order to save my people? He informed the WP.
‘For some reason, I have to think that I’m not allowed to do anything there. Why? Because Putin will … use nuclear weapons? The kids who are dying don’t care.’
One of the key conditions imposed on Ukraine by its western allies when providing them with arms was that Kyiv doesn’t use their weaponry to strike targets inside Russia due to fears of further escalation.
To date, despite a number of strikes taking place on Russian territory, Kyiv has rarely claimed responsibility for the attacks.
But according to Zaluzhny, this could soon change.
‘If our partners are afraid to use their weapons, we will kill with our own. But only as much as is necessary.’
He added: ‘This is our problem, and it is up to us to decide how to kill this enemy. It is possible and necessary to kill on its territory in a war.’
Despite being told by allies that they have enough heavy weapons to conduct their counteroffensive, Zaluzhny said Ukraine still lacks the necessary resources to liberate all the occupied territories and minimise casualties.
The general criticised those who say Ukraine doesn’t need F-16 fighter jets, and said that Kyiv’s Western allies would never fight like this.
Zaluzhny also reiterated Ukraine’s goal to liberate Russian-occupied Crimea despite concerns over Putin’s potential response voiced by some Western officials.
‘As soon as I have the means, I’ll do something. I don’t give a damn — nobody will stop me,’ he said.
Elsewhere in the interview, the army commander claimed to ‘eagerly’ read everything written by Russia’s top general Valerey Gerasmiov, which he described as ‘very, very interesting’, before lamenting the fact that ‘he hasn’t published anything lately’.
‘He is an enemy — an enemy who is very smart,’ Zaluzhny said.
‘Smart and therefore devious. He is still strong. So you have to respect him as such and look for ways to kill him. Because that is the only way to win.’