Ukraine has for the first time deployed long-range ballistic missiles, secretly supplied by the United States, to launch attacks on Russian forces. American officials confirmed on Wednesday that Ukrainian forces had employed these weapons to bombard a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and to strike Russian forces in another occupied area overnight.
The new missiles significantly enhance Ukraine’s striking capabilities, providing nearly double the range of the mid-range missiles they received from the US last October. An anonymous US official informed the Associated Press that additional missiles will be supplied as part of a new military aid package approved by President Biden on Wednesday.
The provision of these Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), with a range of 300km, comes after months of internal debate within the Biden administration. Concerns centered around the possibility of Ukraine using them to target locations deep within Russian territory. However, Russia’s deployment of long-range ballistic missiles obtained from North Korea in December and January prompted officials to reconsider, according to the official.
Social media footage captured the explosions at the airfield in Crimea last week, though officials initially declined to confirm the involvement of ATACMS. Meanwhile, President Biden signed legislation on Wednesday authorizing billions of dollars in new US aid for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia, which commenced in February 2022.
“This provides essential support to America’s allies, empowering them to defend themselves against threats to their sovereignty,” he remarked.
The initial aid package encompasses vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, supplementary ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank munitions, and an array of other weapons ready for immediate deployment on the battlefield.
Ukraine had persistently requested the long-range systems amid escalating Russian attacks. President Biden had been urging lawmakers to approve increased funding for Ukraine for six months, despite opposition from the Republican right. Donald Trump, Biden’s potential opponent in the November presidential election, has also voiced objections to the aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized on X that “Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, artillery, and air defense are indispensable tools for the swift restoration of a just peace.”
