Ukraine Deploys Covertly Supplied U.S. Missiles for Surprise Attack

 

    On Tuesday, the Ukrainian military utilized longer-range missiles supplied by the U.S. to target nine Russian helicopters in eastern Ukraine, with the weapons having been shipped in secret by Washington in recent weeks.

This development signifies a significant escalation in the administration's support for Ukraine, as it grants Kyiv's forces the capability to strike Russian targets situated far beyond the front lines for the first time.

Initially hesitant to provide the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) due to concerns about exacerbating the conflict, President Joe Biden's decision to transfer the system implies a shift in the administration's strategy following a sluggish Ukrainian counteroffensive. The transfer and use of the missiles in Ukraine were confirmed by two individuals familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the internal discussions. The Wall Street Journal was the first to report on the transfer and deployment of the missile.

The acknowledgment of the ATACMS being in Ukrainian possession and already in use comes after months of secrecy surrounding Biden's decision to supply the longer-range weapons. Ukraine announced on Tuesday that its forces had successfully neutralized nine Russian helicopters and additional military equipment in an assault on the cities of Berdyansk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine, currently under Russian occupation.

In the attack on the occupied cities of Berdyansk and Luhansk, Ukrainian special forces struck two Russian military airfields, destroying multiple helicopters, an anti-aircraft missile system, and an ammunition warehouse. The operation, dubbed "Operation Dragonfly," also resulted in substantial damage to the runways of the airfields, according to the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces.

The decision to provide the missiles to Ukraine was communicated by Biden to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a White House meeting on September 21. The administration's decision coincides with growing concerns about a substantial Russian military buildup for an anticipated fall offensive, possibly the largest movement of Russian forces in months.

In response to the recent series of largely unsuccessful Russian attacks on Ukrainian positions in Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region, Ukraine is expected to utilize the longer-range ATACMS to target airfields and ammunition depots, thereby blunting any logistical advantages that the Russians may have.

This development brings an end to over a year of criticism from pro-Ukraine advocates, who had urged the U.S. to provide ATACMS to Ukraine much earlier. Kyiv had lobbied for the missiles to effectively target Russian positions within Ukraine, mounting an influence campaign to pressure the administration for their delivery.