White House: US Has Never Prohibited Ukraine from Shooting Down Enemy Russian Aircraft Over Russia

Ukraine has never been restricted from shooting down hostile Russian aircraft not over its territory. This was stated at a briefing by John Kirby, Strategic Communications Coordinator for the White House National Security Council.     

According to him, the Ukrainian military can shoot down Russian aircraft that pose an impending threat, even if they are not in Ukrainian airspace.

Asked by journalists whether Kirby could confirm reports that Ukraine had used American weapons on Russian territory for the first time, he said he could not answer this question. 

‘As I said, we simply cannot know on a daily basis exactly what the Ukrainians are shooting at and what they are shooting at.  This is certainly at the tactical level.  So I cannot confirm this. I can only say that they understand the instructions they have been given,’ the White House spokesman said.

Earlier, it was reported that the permission for the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use US weapons on Russian territory could be extended. It will depend on the situation on the battlefield.

As a reminder, the Netherlands gave Ukraine permission to use its F-16s to strike at Russian territory. Canada, Finland and Poland also do not restrict the use of their weapons supplied to Ukraine.