In March, the United States clandestinely delivered long-range ballistic missiles to Ukraine as part of a military assistance package, with Ukraine utilizing the weapons on two occasions, as confirmed by US officials.
The extended-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) possess a striking range of up to 300km (186 miles), nearly doubling the reach of the mid-range ATACMS previously supplied by the US towards the end of last year.
For a while, Washington hesitated to supply Ukraine with the extended-range weapon, fearing it could escalate the conflict by targeting areas deep inside Russian territory.
However, in February, Biden authorized the delivery of the missiles, and a “substantial” quantity was part of a $300 million aid package unveiled the subsequent month, officials disclosed.
“We’ve already dispatched some, and more are on the way,” stated White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan to reporters.
State Department spokesman Vedant Patel noted that the delivery had not been publicized “to maintain operational security for Ukraine, as per their request.” Neither official specified the exact number of ATACMS sent.
Amid a prolonged delay in the delivery of a $61 billion military assistance package recently approved in the US, Ukraine has resorted to rationing its weaponry. It is anticipated that ATACMS will be part of the initial $1 billion installment of this aid package.
The arms dispatched this month were deployed on April 17 to target an airfield in Dzhankoi, Crimea, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in 2014. Additionally, they were utilized this week against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine, near the occupied city of Berdyansk.
‘Time is right’
Admiral Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, disclosed that both the White House and military strategists extensively assessed the risks associated with providing Ukraine with long-range weaponry and concluded that the timing was appropriate.
These weapons were dispatched under the condition that they would be exclusively utilized within Ukrainian sovereign territory.
“I believe the timing is opportune, and the decision to provide these weapons was made by the President [Biden] based on the current state of the conflict,” stated Grady.
According to a US official speaking to Reuters, Russia’s deployment of North Korean-supplied long-range ballistic missiles against Ukraine in December and January played a pivotal role in changing the US stance.
Furthermore, Russia’s persistent targeting of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure raised concerns. “We cautioned Russia about these actions,” noted the official, who requested anonymity. “They persisted with their targeting.”
The prolonged delay in US funding and weapon deliveries has afforded Russia the opportunity to bolster its firepower and personnel, intensifying attacks along the eastern Ukrainian front line. Russia claims to have seized control of several settlements in the region this month. It has increasingly employed satellite-guided gliding bombs, dropped from aircraft at a safe distance, to inflict damage on Ukrainian forces.
Although Ukrainian officials have not publicly acknowledged the receipt or usage of long-range ATACMS, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Congress for passing the new aid bill, emphasizing the significance of such weaponry in the ongoing conflict.
“Ukraine’s long-range capabilities, artillery, and air defense are crucial assets for swiftly achieving a just peace,” Zelenskyy underscored on the social media platform X.
