The U.S. is increasingly worried about how Russia might respond to recent developments in Ukraine. Ukrainian forces have made significant progress in their ongoing counteroffensive, breaking through Russian lines and hitting targets, including those in the Crimean Peninsula.
Simultaneously, reports indicate that the U.S. plans to send the advanced ATACMS weapon system to Ukraine. This has led to heightened concerns about Russia's potential reaction to the news, as reported by Sky News.
The ATACMS system would be a significant upgrade over the Storm Shadow missiles currently used by Ukraine. These can be launched from the ground and are not dependent on weather conditions.
However, there is ongoing concern about how Russia might react to the deployment of increasingly sophisticated Western weapons, especially if they are capable of striking within Russian territory, according to analyst Mark Stone.
Potential to reach Russia
Given the ATACMS system's range, it has the capability to hit Russian territory from Ukrainian soil. "Considering the positions of the current frontline and the range of ATACMS, it would be possible for them to hit Russian territory," Stone added.
Leaders targeted
In the wake of Ukraine's counterattacks against Russian headquarters in Crimea, several Russian military leaders have been injured or killed.
"The daring and precise work of special forces made it possible to hit the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet 'on time and with precision,' while the higher personnel of the Russian fleet were hit in the temporarily occupied city of Sevastopol," stated Russian special forces, as reported by CNN.
Ukrainian forces have made progress in multiple areas recently. Over the weekend, they broke through in the southern village of Verbovse, and further advances are expected, according to Ukrainian General Oleksandr Tarnavsky.
