(CLO) One day after receiving information that US President Joe Biden had given permission, Ukraine fired a long-range ATACMS missile into the Bryansk region, located 379 km southwest of Moscow.
Russia's Defense Ministry said Ukraine fired six US-made ATACMS missiles into Russia's Bryansk region, the first time Kiev has used such weapons inside Russia.
The ministry said five missiles were intercepted by Russian air defenses, while the sixth missile was damaged and fell on a military facility, causing a fire.
Ukraine's General Staff said armed forces attacked an ammunition depot in the Bryansk region, which borders Kursk and is likely supplying ammunition to Russian forces fighting there.
Hours before the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially lowered the threshold for the country to use nuclear weapons. The revised nuclear doctrine states that Moscow could launch such an attack if attacked by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power.
The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) fires. Photo: Reuters
What is ATACMS?
The military tactical missile system used by Ukraine in the attack on Bryansk is a US-made surface-to-surface missile developed by defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin with a range of up to 300 km.
Launched from the HIMARS or M270 MLRS systems, they can carry cluster bombs or high-explosive warheads.
ATACMS can reach longer distances than other Ukrainian missiles but is still inferior to cruise missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles.
First used in the 1991 Gulf War, the $1.5 million missile is prized for its accuracy and ability to strike deep into enemy rear areas.
By comparison, the HIMARS system, also supplied by the US, has a shorter range of only about 80 km and is mainly used to target tactical positions.
The UK and France have also supplied Ukraine with long-range missiles, called Storm Shadow, capable of precision strikes up to 250km away.
With the US allowing the use of ATACMS, the UK and France are likely to follow suit, lifting restrictions on Ukraine's use of Storm Shadows against targets on Russian territory.
Source: Lockheed Martin, AP
How will ATACMS affect the battlefield?
While ATACMS provide a strategic advantage, their limited numbers are unlikely to change the trajectory of the war as Russia has made gradual advances in eastern Ukraine. Not to mention, Russia has moved many important assets out of ATACMS range.
Pentagon spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Charlie Dietz also noted that ATACMS would not be the answer to the main threat Ukraine faces from Russian-fired glide bombs, which are fired from a distance of more than 300 km, beyond the reach of ATACMS.
Jennifer Kavanagh, director of military analysis at Defense Priorities, said the US decision would not change the course of the war.
“To really damage Russia, Ukraine would need large ATACMS stockpiles, which it does not have and will not get because of limited US supplies,” she said.
“Moreover, the biggest hurdle Ukraine faces is a lack of trained and ready personnel, a challenge that neither the United States nor its European allies can solve and all the weapons in the world cannot overcome,” she added.
Map showing the strike range of ATACMS missiles within Russia.
Why did the US change its stance?
Since the conflict began, Ukraine has lobbied its Western allies to provide advanced weapons to attack Russian targets, hoping to weaken Moscow's military and improve its negotiating position.
The Biden administration has long opposed strikes inside Russia out of concern they could escalate the conflict and potentially draw NATO into direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia.
President Biden's change of heart comes just weeks before his term ends in January. His successor, President-elect Donald Trump, has promised to negotiate a quick end to the Ukraine crisis.
What are the remaining key questions?
It is not clear what restrictions the US will impose on the use of weapons, nor is it clear how much weapons the US will provide to Ukraine.
While the US has provided ATACMS to Ukraine in various military aid packages, the US Department of Defense has not disclosed how many missiles have been sent or exactly how many the Pentagon has. Estimates suggest the US has at least thousands of ATACMS missiles.
In addition, the recent US election results raise questions about how long this policy will be in place. Mr. Trump has repeatedly criticized the Biden administration for spending too much to support Ukraine. Mr. Trump could reverse Mr. Biden's moves.
It is unclear, however, whether other allies will join in. The decision by the United States could encourage Britain and France to allow Ukraine to use the Storm Shadow missile, also known as the SCALP missile, which has a range of 250 kilometers.
Hoai Phuong
Source: https://www.congluan.vn/atacms-ten-lua-my-ma-ukraine-su-dung-tan-cong-nga-manh-the-nao-va-co-the-thay-doi-cuc-dien-post322142.html
Comment (0)