The United States plans to provide Ukraine with additional long-range tactical ballistic missiles, which have proven highly effective in targeting and damaging Russian airfields far beyond the front lines.
President Joe Biden has removed the final barrier for Ukraine to obtain further assistance, including the MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), which are of immense importance in the provision of military aid to the country.
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According to several reports, Ukraine received a shipment of ATACMS earlier this year in secret. Recently, they utilized these missiles in long-range strikes. There are suggestions by US lawmakers that more of these lethal missiles could be en route to Kyiv in a matter of days.
Ukraine has showcased its ability to successfully strike Russia’s valuable assets from behind using ATACMS, a development that poses a major challenge for Moscow. By acquiring more of these missiles, Kyiv could maintain its current momentum in this regard.
Dan Rice, a former US Army artillery officer, stated that the Russians would need to make significant adjustments to their strategy and tactics as a result of this development.
The image is credited to the South Korean Defense Ministry via Getty Images.
During the war, Ukraine consistently urged Washington to supply ATACMS in order to target important Russian assets located deep within enemy territory. In a covert operation, Kyiv managed to acquire a limited quantity of these missiles from the US. Eventually, Ukraine showcased their capabilities by using the ATACMS to strike two Russian airfields in the occupied regions of eastern Ukraine last fall.
Kyiv employed the M39 ATACMS variant during those assaults. The M39 is a highly lethal cluster missile that can cover a range of approximately 100 miles. Packed with 950 M74 bomblets designed for anti-personnel and anti-materiel purposes, the M39 releases these bomblets mid-flight, dispersing them over a wide area. This effective weapon possesses the capability to inflict substantial damage.
The Western intelligence reported that the recent airstrikes successfully targeted and destroyed several crucial assets of Russia, including over a dozen Russian helicopters, an air-defense missile launcher, vehicles, and ammunition depots. These strikes were highly effective in disrupting Moscow’s operations. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the ATACMS for their exceptional performance, stating that they had clearly proven themselves.
There have been no public confirmations from Kyiv or Washington regarding any additional Ukrainian missile strikes since last fall.
According to recent reports from The New York Times and Reuters, it has been revealed that the Biden administration discreetly sent long-range ATACMS variants to Ukraine as part of a $300 million security assistance package. These missiles were utilized by Kyiv to target a Russian military airfield in the occupied Crimean peninsula. US officials shared this information with the media outlets.
The image above shows a screenshot taken from a video released by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
House lawmakers passed legislation over the weekend that includes a crucial $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, which has been in limbo for months. As part of this package, there is a requirement for the transfer of additional ATACMS to Ukraine.
Sen. Mark Werner, the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed his optimism about the progress of the legislation during his appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday. He mentioned that with the toughest hurdle now cleared, he hoped that ATACMS would be in transit by the end of this week.
During their conversation on Monday, Zelenskyy confirmed that all the necessary details for an agreement on ATACMS have been finalized after speaking with Biden.
Ukraine has repeatedly urged Washington to provide them with the extended-range variations of the missile, which were allegedly employed in the recent strikes in Crimea. The specific type of missile used in the assault on Russian air-defense systems and radar stations, whether it was the cluster missile variant or the one with a unitary warhead, remains uncertain.
Area weapons, also referred to as cluster variants, possess the capability to effectively engage and neutralize extensive troop concentrations. These weapons can be employed to target exposed or entrenched enemy forces, while simultaneously incapacitating fuel, ammunition, and armored vehicles in close proximity.
Unitary warheads are specifically designed to target high-value objects such as bridges, command and control facilities, supply depots, or heavily fortified bunkers. Unlike other types of warheads, they deliver a single powerful explosion instead of dispersing smaller submunitions over a wider area. This concentrated blast allows for precise and effective destruction of the intended target.
According to Rice, the combination of HIMARS launchers and cluster munitions makes them even more lethal. This increased capability puts more pressure on the Russians in the areas within 300 kilometers of the front lines. Rice, who has long been a proponent of sending various cluster munitions to Ukraine and currently serves as the President of American University Kyiv, believes that this strategic advantage is crucial in the ongoing conflict.
The introduction of more ATACMS is expected to prompt Moscow to adjust its strategy and tactics. Military experts have noted that Russia’s leadership will need to find a way to safeguard and reposition vulnerable assets that fall within the missiles’ range, all while maintaining their effectiveness in combat.
The image above is credited to the South Korea Defense Ministry, as per the Associated Press.
According to Rice, if more ATACMS are brought in, it could potentially compel the Russians to relocate their supply depots, command and control nodes, and attack helicopters further away from the front lines. This strategic move by Ukraine would significantly impede Moscow’s ability to wage war against Kyiv’s forces.
The Ukrainian forces are currently facing a challenging situation on the battlefield as they are running out of crucial artillery ammunition and air-defense munitions. Hence, the recent approval of additional funding for Ukraine arrives at a crucial moment for Kyiv’s forces.
Russia has made significant progress in recent months. Officials from the US, Ukraine, and the West, along with experts in warfare, have issued warnings that without further security assistance from Washington, Kyiv could continue to experience territorial losses.
During a press briefing on Tuesday, Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder expressed his satisfaction with the recent passage of the Ukraine aid package. He highlighted that this development enables the United States to swiftly provide “life-saving security assistance” to Kyiv.
“We have much more to share in the coming days,” he emphasized. “It goes without saying that we recognize the significance and urgency of the matter, and we are making every effort to ensure that we are prepared to respond promptly.”
Photo by ANATOLII STEPANOV/AFP via Getty Images
After signing the legislation into law on Wednesday, Biden wasted no time as the Pentagon swiftly declared a $1 billion security assistance package for Ukraine. Although not explicitly referring to ATACMS, the statement indicated that the package includes “additional ammunition” for the HIMARS, which might encompass ATACMS.
The comprehensive military aid package also encompasses a range of crucial resources, such as air-defense interceptors, artillery ammunition, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and other essential lethal equipment.
According to President Biden, if Russian President Vladimir Putin succeeds in Ukraine, there is a high possibility that Russian forces might launch a direct assault on a NATO ally. In order to prevent Putin from dragging the United States into a war in Europe, the Biden administration is ramping up its support to Ukraine.
