The Financial Times quoted several officials as saying that for months, the United States has been assisting Ukraine in launching long-range strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

According to several Ukrainian and U.S. officials familiar with the operation, U.S. shared intelligence enabled Ukraine to strike off key Russian energy assets far from the frontline, including several refineries, officials said it was a coordinated action aimed at weakening Russian economic strength.

Informed officials revealed that U.S. intelligence helped Ukraine to formulate mission decisions such as route planning, flight altitude, timing, allowing Ukraine's long-range single-way attack drones to break through the Russian air defense system.

Three people familiar with the matter said the United States was "closely involved in all stages of planning." A U.S. official said that Uzbekistan is responsible for selecting long-range strike targets, while the United States provides loopholes on these targets. However, some people who participated in the operation or were briefed on the briefing said that the United States not only provided intelligence, but also set strike priorities for Uzbekistan.

According to the Financial Times, Ukrainian President Zelensky refused to comment on the role of U.S. intelligence in Ukrainian forces' deep-seated strikes on Russian territory at a press conference in Kiev on Wednesday, but said Ukraine was "working with U.S. intelligence, primarily for self-defense."

The Reuters news agency said the White House, Zelensky office and the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the request for comments.

Earlier, U.S. Vice President Wences said that the United States is considering buying money through NATO European member states to provide Ukraine with cruise missiles with a range that can cover the Russian capital Moscow.

On October 10, Russian President Vladimir Putin, in response to a reporter's question at a press conference summarizing the trip to Tajikistan, said that if the U.S. really supplies Ukraine with "war-ax" cruise missiles, Russia will strengthen the air defense system in response.