The United States has secretly provided Ukraine with a new long-range missile system, a senior US official revealed. The weapons, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), have a range of about 190 miles, significantly extending Ukraine’s ability to strike targets deep within Russian-occupied territories, including Crimea.
Overnight Tuesday, Ukraine used the longer-range missiles to strike Russian troops in the port city of Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov. On April 17, the missiles were used to target a military airfield in Dzhankoi, Crimea, where social media accounts reported large fires and explosions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked General Oleksandr Syrsky for the attack but did not elaborate on the specifics.
The delivery of the long-range ATACMS is a major policy shift for President Biden, who had previously been reluctant to provide Ukraine with such advanced weaponry. However, several factors, such as Russia’s increasing use of ballistic missiles and attacks on critical infrastructure, as well as the availability of the missiles from the US Army, contributed to the decision.
The use of the new missiles has had a significant impact. Videos posted online showed fires erupting at the targeted locations, and the Ukrainian General Staff released a video detailing the damage inflicted on Russian air defense systems and command posts.
The $300 million arms package that included the ATACMS was announced last month and was cobbled together from savings on contracts. While it was initially described as a stopgap measure, the successful strikes by the longer-range missiles have prompted praise from advocates of arming Ukraine.
The US has warned that its arsenal of ATACMS missiles is relatively small and has commitments to other war plans. However, some argue that the fear of escalating the conflict with Russia should not prevent the US from providing Ukraine with the weapons it needs to defend itself and deter further aggression.
