**Ukraine’s Use of ATACMS Missiles**
The Biden administration announced on Sunday that Ukraine is now authorized to use long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles for strikes inside Russia, a request that Ukrainian officials have pursued for years. Administration officials conveyed to The New York Times that the missiles would likely be deployed first against Russian and North Korean forces in Kursk, although President Biden may permit their use in other locations as well.
**Capabilities of ATACMS Missiles**
ATACMS missiles, capable of reaching distances of up to 190 miles, can potentially allow Ukraine to target Russian resupply routes or even locations within Moscow. The U.S. has been supplying Ukraine with High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) since the early months of the conflict that began in 2022. However, the administration previously hesitated to provide longer-range ATACMS due to concerns of potential escalation by Russia.
**Concerns Over Escalation**
Russian military doctrine views any threat to its capital or distant supply routes as “existential,” leading officials to declare the provision of such missiles to Ukraine as crossing a “red line.” Nevertheless, in March 2023, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown indicated that the risk of escalation from using these missiles was “not as high.” Subsequently, the White House began supplying some longer-range missiles to Ukraine, albeit with strict usage limitations.
**Recent Developments and Justifications**
Recent decisions appear to have been influenced by reports indicating that North Korea could send up to 100,000 troops to Russia to assist in its conflict with Ukraine, alongside Russia’s recent missile attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. George Barros from the Institute for the Study of War emphasized the importance of extending the usage of ATACMS beyond just the Kursk region, noting the numerous valid military targets within range.
Former Ukrainian defense minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk remarked that the introduction of ATACMS would enhance Ukraine’s capability to target Russian military formations preparing for assaults on Ukraine, asserting that these high-payload missiles are crucial for addressing specific military objectives.
**Impacts of Allied Decisions**
This announcement also comes in the wake of France and Britain allowing Ukraine to launch deep strikes into Russia using SCALP/Storm Shadow missiles, reflecting a shift in Washington’s strategic calculations—a change some experts feel should have occurred earlier in the conflict.
**Political Responses**
Within the U.S., reactions from politicians vary. Senator Roger Wicker, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, expressed satisfaction with the prospect of Ukraine utilizing the ATACMS but criticized the Biden administration for its previous hesitance in delivering military support. Conversely, other prominent political figures within the Republican Party have voiced dissenting views, with some alleging that escalating military support contravenes the desire to resolve the conflict more swiftly.
Overall, the decision to authorize Ukrainian use of ATACMS marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict, with potential implications for military strategy and international relations in the region.
