For the first time, Ukraine has used US-supplied long-range ATACMS missiles in an attack inside Russia, according to RBC Ukraine. This strike follows US President Joe Biden’s recent authorization, which marked a shift in US policy.
The attack reportedly targeted a military facility near Karachev in Russia’s Bryansk region, about 130 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The Ukrainian Defense Forces confirmed the successful strike, which likely aimed to hit military equipment, logistics hubs, or ammunition depots to weaken potential Russian offensives.
For months, Biden had resisted allowing Ukraine to use ATACMS for fear of escalating the conflict. However, reports of Russia enlisting up to 10,000 North Korean soldiers prompted a change in stance, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Biden’s approval allows Ukraine to use these missiles, which have a range of around 190 miles. Unlike previous Ukrainian strikes using drones and non-US weapons, ATACMS missiles are more powerful and harder to intercept.
The move comes just days after Russia launched its first missile and drone attack on Kyiv in 73 days, as reported by Ukrainian officials.
