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In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Answer to a media question | Putin answered a question from a media representative. [Media blackout on key part of Putin's statement], POGO163 wrote:
Just because Putin said it takes Nato troops to fire the long range missiles into Russia goes not mean he is correct. Who is firing those missiles now into Russian occupied Ukraine area? That is correct, Ukrainians and they would be the ones who fire them into Russia also.
Why do you assume westerners are not involved in prior short range use of ATACAMS? We've given the Ukraine other technology that has to be supported by Westerners (MANPAD MISSILES etc.).
Besides - a lot of the ATACAMS we've given Ukraine were accompanied by ancient Soviet missile launchers the US bought and provided to Ukraine. Those would be operated by Ukraine.
The rest of my answer to your post is embedded in my post to Petrosius.
In the News/Activism forum, on a thread titled Why Ukraine wants to use Western long-range missiles inside Russia, Petrosius wrote:
ATACAMS were given to Ukraine, likely operated by Westerners,
What is your evidence for this? We train our own military personnel to operate them. Why could we not train Ukrainians?
ransomnote: Haven't you been following the F-16 saga? First problem in training pilots was to find pilots who spoke English well enough to understand the training. Analysts have been saying all along that we can't really say the US is not involved on the ground given the technology we've shipped there.
It sounds like you think the Pentagon gave up control of the equipment - this is not true. For example, if Russia takes over a missile site operating in the Ukraine, they can't use the ATACAMS against the West or against th Ukraine. These things are controlled.
but were first programmed to limit their distance.
And you know this, how?
News articles. I think that one includes a variety of sources, including an analysis done by Council on Foreign relations, or a similar name.
The reason people are begging the US/UK to 'let' the Ukraine (via American operators) fire deep into Russia is that they need the West to change the programming and change orders originally given to the personnel.
Even if true, all we would have to do is forward the programming.
So you do think the Pentagon will up serious military technology and just decided to 'let the Ukraine do what it wants?' Have you seen what they did in Kursk and Zaporozhna? (attack nuclear power plants). No, the Pentagon still controls the hardware.
If the Ukraine could fire them without US operation, they definitely would have done so by now.
And risk further aid? That would be suicidal.
They are portraying the lack of firing deep into Russia as 'suicidal'. Clearly no one was thinking in the Ukraine when they launched the Kursk offensive. Zelensky's intellect, knowledge, wisdom and self control are below basement levels. No the Pentagon won't hand Zelensky the more serious technology to do with what he will.
You are presuming a lot without any evidence.

I didn't see any evidence links in your post.
I don't believe the Pentagon trusts Zelensky to handle military hardware like long range ATACAMS. Our military wouldn't even know the names of people tasked with firing them if we gave the Ukraine control. The Ukraine sold other weapons to ISIS and other countries - we're not putting ATACAMS in the mix. It's not just Ukrainians, why would the Pentagon let go of control of military hardware in contested areas? Do we want Russia or even mercenaries to commandeer and operate missiles against us? No - these things are controlled.