Recently, the United States covertly delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine to aid in its defence against Russian invaders, as confirmed by a US official. Ukraine has since deployed these missiles twice during the conflict.

The missiles were part of a $300 million military aid package for Ukraine approved by US President Joe Biden on March 12, according to a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity. The official did not disclose the quantity of missiles sent.

During a briefing for reporters, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that a "significant number" of the missiles had been sent to Ukraine and stated that "we will send more."

Sullivan stated that Ukraine has committed to using the weapons solely within its borders, refraining from deploying them in Russia.

President Joe Biden approved a $1 billion weapons package for Ukraine, with some of the missiles included, according to Sullivan.

In the early hours of April 17, Ukraine launched the missiles for the first time against a Russian airfield in Crimea, about 165 km from the front lines. They were used again overnight against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine. The Biden administration debated sending the long-range missiles for months, following the supply of mid-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) last September.

Initially, the Pentagon opposed deploying long-range missiles, fearing it would impact US military readiness and that Ukraine might use them against targets within Russia. However, Russia's use of North Korean-supplied long-range ballistic missiles against Ukraine led to a change in stance.

The US decision was also influenced by Russia's targeting of Ukraine's critical infrastructure. Despite warnings, Russia continued targeting these areas. In late January, the US military addressed concerns about military readiness, allowing the administration to proceed. They began acquiring new missiles from Lockheed-Martin.

In mid-February, Biden met with his national security team and agreed to send the missiles to Ukraine based on unanimous advice from his advisers. The challenge was to find funding as US options were exhausted and congressional gridlock hindered further aid.

In March, an opportunity emerged when several Pentagon contracts were awarded below budget. Biden utilised the surplus to provide $300 million in assistance to Ukraine.

According to the official, Biden instructed his team to include the long-range ATACMS in this funding package but to do so covertly to preserve operational security and maintain the element of surprise for Ukraine.

Image source: Reuters