After more than 1,000 days of war, Ukraine has escalated its tactics by using U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles for the first time against a target in Russia.
The strike marks a significant milestone in Ukraine’s efforts to counter Russian aggression, according to Ziare.
The attack occurred at 2:30 a.m. local time, targeting a munitions depot in Karachev, located in Russia’s Bryansk region, 130 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
According to Ukrainian military sources cited by RBC Ukraine, the depot housed artillery shells from North Korea, aviation bombs, anti-aircraft missiles, and other munitions.
The strike successfully destroyed the facility.
A Ukrainian military official confirmed the use of ATACMS, stating:
“Yes, we used ATACMS for the first time to strike Russian territory.”
However, Ukraine’s military has officially only acknowledged that the depot was hit, without specifying the weapon used. Russian authorities claimed the attack was carried out with drones and did not mention ballistic missiles.
The MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a surface-to-surface missile system capable of precise long-range strikes.
The variant used by Ukraine likely has a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) and travels at speeds exceeding Mach 3 (3,700 km/h).
The warhead can carry either high-explosive or cluster munitions, making it highly effective against munitions depots and other critical infrastructure.
The targeted depot had been struck previously in an attack last month, but the successful use of ATACMS indicates a new phase in Ukraine’s capabilities.
