Finland did not forbid Ukraine to use weapons for attacks on Russia

Ukraine can use the weapons provided by Finland on the territory of Russia, Helsinki did not impose any bans.

This was announced by Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen, RBC-Ukraine reports regarding Yle.

The leadership of the parliamentary defense committee in Finland also stated that the country has not set any restrictions on its assistance in the field of weapons, and Ukraine can use the weapons provided by Finland on the territory of Russia.

According to Defense Minister Hakkanen, restrictions on the use of weapons were established mainly by countries that provided Ukraine with long-range weapons systems.

The question arose when the future commander of the Estonian Defense Forces, Andrus Merilo, said that Western countries had made a mistake by limiting Ukraine's use of weapons only to strikes on occupied territory.

The head of the parliamentary defense committee, Yukka Kopra, said that Ukraine should have the right to use weapons against military facilities on Russian soil.

The deputy chairman of the defense committee, Mikko Savola, says that the weapons provided by Finland can, in principle, be used for strikes on Russian soil.

However, he points out that the range of weapons provided by Finland is shorter than, for example, long-range missiles.

The Finnish defense forces said that the political will of NATO and other Western countries, as well as the condition of military aid, is that Western weapons cannot be used in attacks on Russian soil.

Journalists also asked NATO whether members of the North Atlantic Alliance had given Ukraine instructions on how and where military aid could be used.

The response stated that NATO's position is that Ukraine has the right to self-defense, including the right to strike Russian military facilities outside Ukraine.

Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 29/02/2024