Joe Biden has given Ukraine the go-ahead to use American weaponry to strike inside Russia for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, according to two US officials familiar with the matter, writes Sky News.

The officials underscored that the US policy calling on Ukraine not to use American-provided long-range missiles and other munitions to strike inside Russia offensively has not changed.

However, PBS’s Nick Schifrin said the decision comes into effect today - meaning Ukraine cab now use “artillery and GMLRs to target Russian military targets across the border in the Belgorod region, including command and control, arms depots, Russian troops, Russian artillery, Russian missiles”.

Russia opened a second front in the Kharkiv region at the start of this month.

Russian missiles hit three sites in Kharkiv city last night, killing at least three people and injuring 16, local officials said. An increasing number of allies have said Ukraine must be able to defend itself by attacking targets in Russian territory.