Officials: US Secretly Shipped Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine

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Facts

  • Earlier this month, Ukraine secretly received US-made, long-range missile systems that are capable of striking targets as far as 186 miles (300 km) away, American officials confirmed on Wednesday.1
  • The weapons, known as the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, have already been used in at least two attacks, US officials said — including the bombing of a Russian airfield in Crimea last week.2
  • Ukraine had started receiving a more limited version of ATACMS as early as October 2023. However, those weapons — while capable of firing cluster munitions each carrying 950 bomblets — only have a 100-mile (160 km) range.3
  • On Wednesday, US Dept. of State spokesman Vedant Patel made the announcement, stating, 'I can confirm that the US provided Ukraine with long-range ATACMS at the president's direct direction.' The US 'did not announce this at the onset in order to maintain operational security for Ukraine at their request,' he added.4
  • The announcement came shortly after US Pres. Joe Biden signed into law a $95B military spending bill that will send $61B of weaponry to Ukraine, with the rest going to Israel, Taiwan, and other regions. Biden also authorized the immediate release of $1B in military aid to Ukraine.5
  • Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Adviser, confirmed the latest package will also include long-range ATACMS. 'We've already sent some, we will send more now that we have additional authority and money,' he said.2

Sources: 1BBC News, 2Associated Press (a), 3IISS, 4bbc.com and 5Associated Press (b).

Narratives

  • Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Associated Press. Ukraine has long sought after long-range ATACMS. Meanwhile, White House and military planners have carefully considered the risks associated with providing the weapon and they've decided this is the right time. If used properly, it can knock out Russian troops and logistics further back from the frontlines and turn around Ukraine's fortunes in the war.
  • Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Ukraine has already used more limited weapons to launch a series of terror attacks on Russian territory. Now that the US has provided Kyiv with long-range ATACMS, Russia can only expect these terror attacks to continue and escalate. Now, more Russian cities are in danger and Crimea is in range. Russia will have no choice but to respond, and it will have no impact on the mess that the US left Ukraine in.

Predictions