The administration of outgoing President Joe Biden authorized Ukraine to use long-range ATACMS missiles to strike deep within Russian territory. Following this decision, France and the United Kingdom followed suit, allowing the use of SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles.
Biden’s decision marks a significant shift in U.S. policy, and sources indicate that it has caused division among his advisers, especially in light of Donald Trump’s statements about his intention to end the war in Ukraine. The approval for Ukraine to use long-range missiles, known as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), came in response to Russia’s unexpected decision to deploy North Korean troops into the conflict, officials said.
Weapons Already Used to Target Russian Assets in Crimea
ATACMS, which stands for Army Tactical Missile System, is manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. It will allow Ukrainian forces to penetrate deeper into Russian-controlled territory. The system will also enable Ukrainian forces to strike surface targets from a safer distance, rather than advancing to the front lines to hit more distant objectives.
ATACMS can be deployed using the already existing HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) launchers in Ukraine’s arsenal.
These missiles have a range of up to 300 kilometers and are difficult to intercept due to their high speed.
The U.S. has provided this weapon as part of a support package, and it has already been used to target Russian positions in Crimea, according to BBC reports.
The ATACMS missiles enable Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian-controlled areas, targeting bases, storage depots, and logistics centers.
