Ukraine has deployed long-range U.S. missiles against Russian forces, marking the first time such weaponry has been used in the battlefield. This move comes after the U.S. secretly provided Ukraine with the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), a decision that has been shrouded in secrecy until now.
According to reports from CNN, the U.S. decided to discreetly supply these missiles to Ukraine in an attempt to catch Russian forces off guard. This strategy was adopted especially after months of public deliberation over whether President Joe Biden would agree to send the weapons. The concern was that the Russians, being aware of the missile's range, might relocate their equipment and weapons out of the missile's reach before they could be deployed.
The ATACMS, which some variants can cover a distance of approximately 186 miles, has already been used by Ukraine to target Russia's Berdyansk and Luhansk airfields in eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian military confirmed that the strike resulted in the destruction of several Russian helicopters, an ammunition depot, and an air defense launcher. However, they did not specify if the ATACMS was used for this operation.
The decision to supply these missiles was not made lightly. The U.S. has historically been cautious about escalating the conflict, especially with weapons that have the potential to be fired into Russia. However, this apprehension diminished over recent months, given Ukraine's track record of not using other U.S.-provided weapons to target Russian territory.
During a visit to Washington, D.C., Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had emphasized the importance of these missiles, stating that they were not just a whim but a genuine necessity. The effectiveness of the Ukrainian army on the battlefield, as well as the safety of the military personnel, depended on it, he argued.
The news of Ukraine deploying these missiles was further corroborated by images of the ATACMS munitions circulating on social media. While the U.S. has previously sent weapons to Ukraine without public announcements, such as the HARM anti-radiation missiles in August 2022, the delivery of significant weapons packages, like the Patriot air defense systems, has typically been publicized.
The recent developments have intensified the geopolitical tensions in the region. With Ukraine now possessing the capability to hit previously unreachable Russian targets, the dynamics of the conflict are set to change. It remains to be seen how Russia will respond to this new challenge and what implications it will have for the broader international community.
