In recent weeks, Ukraine has been using U.S.-donated Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to target Russian assets far behind the current front lines. These long-range missiles have been successfully used to strike Moscow’s troops, air-defense systems, aircraft, and vessels. Ukraine has been utilizing the ATACMS missiles to hit high-value Russian assets, showcasing the firepower they have been provided with to combat Russian forces. These attacks have caused significant damage to Russian facilities, and the missiles have proven to be effective in hitting targets deep within Russian-controlled territories.
The ATACMS missiles were part of a $300-million aid package announced in mid-March and have since arrived in Ukraine. These newly supplied missiles are longer-range and can reach deeper into Russian-controlled territory. While Moscow’s forces continue to advance in mainland Ukraine, Kyiv has been targeting jets and command centers behind the front lines, particularly in Crimea. The use of ATACMS missiles in Crimea has raised concerns from Ukraine’s Western allies, who have warned that the weapons should only be used in contested territories and not in areas internationally recognized as parts of Russia, such as Crimea.
Recent reports have indicated that Ukraine has used ATACMS missiles to strike a Russian military communications center in Alushta, Crimea, as well as an air base that houses advanced air-defense systems. Satellite imagery has shown the aftermath of Ukrainian strikes on the Belbek airfield near Sevastopol, indicating that several aircraft were damaged or destroyed. Additionally, Ukraine has targeted Russian vessels, including a minesweeper and a missile-armed corvette, in Sevastopol. Questions have arisen regarding the use of ATACMS in these strikes, with reports suggesting that the missiles were able to penetrate Russian air defenses.
Analysts have reported that Kyiv destroyed missile launchers and a radar station belonging to Moscow’s forces in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region. This successful strike was attributed to ATACMS missiles, showcasing the effectiveness of these weapons in targeting Russian assets in the region. In another incident, a Russian military training ground in the Moscow-annexed Luhansk region was targeted by ATACMS missiles, further highlighting Ukraine’s ability to use these long-range missiles against Russian forces.
The use of ATACMS missiles by Ukraine has proven to be a significant development in the ongoing conflict with Russia. These long-range missiles have allowed Ukraine to target high-value Russian assets far behind the front lines, causing damage to Moscow’s troops, air-defense systems, aircraft, and vessels. The effectiveness of the ATACMS missiles in hitting Russian targets deep within their controlled territories demonstrates Ukraine’s increased firepower in combating Russian forces. As the conflict continues to escalate, the use of these missiles will likely play a crucial role in Ukraine’s strategy against Russian aggression in the region.
