According to Politico‘s report on the 24th (local time), the Biden Administration secretly delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine last month. Ukraine has deployed them to strike the Russian front lines on two occasions. Amidst the Ukraine security budget finally passing through the U.S. Congress, it was revealed that long-range missiles are also included in the new security package soon to be transferred to Ukraine.
Quoting senior officials from the Biden administration, Politico revealed that the U.S. supplied Ukraine with many ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) surface-to-surface tactical missiles with a range of 200 miles (approximately 320 km) last month. While the U.S. has been providing ATACMS to Ukraine since last year, previous deliveries consisted of older medium-range missiles with shorter ranges, partly due to concerns about escalating conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian officials reported that Ukraine used the long-range missiles provided by the U.S. to attack Russian military bases in Crimea and Russian forces in the port city of Berdyansk in southeastern Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region. Following the approval of a roughly $61 billion security budget for Ukraine, the U.S. government announced on the same day that it would promptly support a security package worth $1 billion, including the new ATACMS.
Amid escalating brutality in Russia’s attacks and a notable shift in the balance of power towards Russia, the U.S. has adjusted its position by intensifying its support for long-range missiles. The Biden administration has issued a warning to Russia, stating that any aggression targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure or utilizing missiles from North Korea will prompt the U.S. to furnish Ukraine with long-range missiles. Politico says, “The Biden administration believes that providing the ATACMS could give Ukraine new momentum in the war that has been ongoing for over two years.”
With Ukraine now possessing American long-range missiles, it could quickly strike Crimea, where Russia has built a sizeable defensive front. Targets include bridges connecting Crimea and Russia and naval facilities operated by the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
Now equipped with American long-range missiles, Ukraine can target Crimea, where Russia has established a substantial defensive front. Potential targets include bridges connecting Crimea and Russia and naval facilities operated by the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
In addition to the United States, European nations like the UK and France support long-range missile systems. The UK recently unveiled a Ukraine support package valued at $62 billion (£850 billion), featuring the Storm Shadow long-range missile. This missile is renowned for its effectiveness against Russian forces and has a range of approximately 150 miles. Likewise, France has been supplying Ukraine with the long-range air-to-ground missile Scalp.
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