Ukraine sets up military office in Russia as incursion grows

Military equipment supplied by the United States and Germany is also being used for Ukraine’s incursion.

None of those countries have raised objections about their equipment being used for the offensive. But given the secrecy surrounding the operation, few would have known Ukraine’s intentions in advance.

There may still be concerns in the West about what happens next. Not just over whether Ukraine could suffer significant losses and come back asking for more. But more importantly, there will be some who may worry about how Russia responds.

The Kremlin has already accused the West of being behind the attack on its territory. The fact that Western weapons are involved could be seen as evidence for that charge.

Escalation is always a worry when it involves a nuclear armed state, and the Kremlin has not been afraid to occasionally rattle its nuclear sabre.

But it has also set down many red lines that have already been crossed.

It warned the West not to supply Ukraine with tanks in the first place. That warning was eventually ignored.

There is, however, still one big restriction. No Western country has given Kyiv the green light to use their long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia.

Britain, France and the US have all provided some – but with the caveat they must be used inside Ukraine. That includes Crimea.

President Zelensky has repeatedly pleaded for those caveats to be lifted.