ATACMS delivered to Ukraine in April became a new formidable weapon against russia: in a month they hit airfields four times, and air defense systems three times

Since mid-April, when Ukraine began using US-supplied ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 km, it has managed to strike several military targets in the Russian rear. The airfield in Dzhankoy (twice), the Belbek airfield in Sevastopol (twice), as well as the military communications center and the location of air defense systems were attacked. If the United States lifts the restriction on the use of these weapons exclusively on Ukrainian territory, the new missiles will be able to reach Voronezh, Lipetsk, Bryansk and Kaluga .

The transfer of ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 km to Ukraine became known at the end of April. As Reuters wrote, citing a source, Washington sent them secretly, but they were included in the military assistance plan approved by Joe Biden on March 12.

▪️According to the agency, Ukraine first used missiles on April 17, hitting an unnamed Crimean airfield 165 km from the front line. On this day, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the airfield in Dzhankoy. The fire also spread to aircraft parking areas, but it is unknown whether the equipment was damaged.

▪️According to Politico, ATACMS was also used for an attack in the Berdyansk area of the Zaporozhye region. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted that the attack targeted the S-300 radar systems.

▪️On April 30, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched another attack on the airfield in Dzhankoy. As a result, at least one launcher of the S-300 or S-400 air defense system was damaged, Radio Liberty wrote . On the same day, the Russian head of Crimea, Sergei Aksenov, reported on the use of ATACMS missiles by Ukraine.

▪️On May 15 and 16, the Ukrainian Armed Forces twice attacked the Belbek airfield near Sevastopol with ATACMS missiles. According to satellite images, two MiG-31 fighters, one Su-27 and a fuel storage tank were destroyed . The MiG-29 fighter was also seriously damaged. On May 19, as a result of an ATACMS attack on a pier in Sevastopol, the small missile ship Cyclone sank . Information about the defeat of the ship was confirmed by the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as the investigation group Conflict Intelligence Team.

▪️At least two successful ATACMS attacks became known this week. On Wednesday, a strike was carried out on an S-400 air defense complex near the city of Mospino in the Donetsk region (45 km from the front line. The Wall Street Journal attributes the attack to new long-range missiles. This strike was caught on video. Pro-war telegram-channel Fighterbomber writes that “the entire S-400 crew is alive.”

▪️Another ATACMS attack occurred the next day, Thursday. The strike was carried out on the army communications center in Alushta, Radio Liberty writes , citing satellite images obtained by the publication.

▪️ “Long-range ATACMS systems have significantly increased the range, value and number of deep targets that Ukraine can attack,” writes The Wall Street Journal. Former US Marine Corps officer and fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Mark Canzian believes that Crimea has become an attractive target because there are many stationary military installations on the peninsula, such as airfields and ports.

▪️For now, Kyiv can only use American missiles to launch strikes on Ukrainian territory. However, it is possible that this restriction may be lifted in the near future. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg are also in favor of this. If this happens, the missiles will be able to reach targets deep behind russia's internationally recognized regions, according to a map compiled by ISW analysts.

@ukrainejournal