JUST IN: Ukraine fires ATACMS long-range missiles into Russia

Ukraine launched ATACMS long-range missiles, allegedly supplied by the US, into Russia, on Tuesday.

According to Russian defence ministry, this occurred a day after Washington authorized such attacks.

The Moscow-based ministry of defense asserts that the attack was on the Bryansk area of Russia.

It also claimed that it was launched using the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS).

According to a statement, five missiles were destroyed and one was damaged.

The pieces of the damaged missile caused a fire at a nearby military installation.

Shortly after Washington gave Ukraine authorization to fire the ATACMS into Russia, the strike marks the first time the long-range missiles have been fired on Russia’s internationally recognized territory.

For almost a year, Ukraine has been utilizing ATACMS in regions of its territory that are under Russian occupation.

The missiles are hard to intercept and may strike targets up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) away.

Kyiv is now able to launch attacks farther into Russia with the missiles, especially in the area surrounding Kursk, where Ukrainian forces control more than 1,000 square kilometers.

According to reports, US and Ukrainian officials anticipate a counteroffensive in the area.

Russia’s defense ministry claimed in a statement that the strike began at 03:25 (00:25 GMT).

It claimed there were no injuries.

And a fire started by falling debris from one of the missiles was promptly put out.

The Ukrainian military previously acknowledged that it had hit a munitions storage facility in the Bryansk region of Russia.

Though, it did not say if ATACMS were used.

It claimed that 12 secondary explosions were produced by the strike on a depot located close to the town of Karachev, around 100 kilometers from the border.

Meanwhile, Putin approved revisions to Russia’s nuclear doctrine earlier on Tuesday, outlining new circumstances in which the nation would contemplate utilizing its weapons.

It now states that a non-nuclear state strike will be seen as a joint attack on Russia if it is supported by a nuclear power.

About ATACMS long-range missiles…

The US ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) is a long-range, surface-to-surface missile system designed to engage high-priority targets at distances beyond the range of traditional artillery.

Key Characteristics

1. Range: 165 km (102 miles)
2. Guidance: Inertial Navigation System (INS) and Global Positioning System (GPS)
3. Warhead: 560 kg (1,235 lb) cluster munition or unitary penetrator
4. Length: 6.8 m (22.3 ft)
5. Diameter: 0.61 m (2 ft)
6. Launch Platform: M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)

Capabilities of ATACMS long-range missile

1. Deep strike capability against high-priority targets
2. Ability to engage targets in adverse weather conditions
3. Precision guidance for minimal collateral damage
4. Flexible warhead options for various target sets

Variants of ATACMS long-range missile

1. M39: Cluster munition warhead
2. M39A1: Unitary penetrator warhead
3. M48: Extended range variant (up to 300 km/186 miles)

Operational history

The operational history of ATACMS long-range missile system include the following:

1. Gulf War (1991)
2. Operation Iraqi Freedom (2003)
3. Operation Enduring Freedom (2001-2014)
4. Recent conflicts in Ukraine and Syria

Upgrades and replacements of ATACMS long-range missile

1. Precision Strike Missile (PrSM): Next-generation replacement for ATACMS
2. Extended Range Cannon Artillery (ERCA): Upgraded cannon system to complement ATACMS

International Users

The international users of this long-range missile system include the following:

1. United States
2. Bahrain
3. Finland
4. France
5. Germany
6. Greece
7. Israel
8. Italy
9. Japan
10. South Korea
11. Taiwan
12. United Arab Emirates

The ATACMS has proven to be an effective and reliable long-range missile system, providing the US military and its allies with a powerful tool for engaging high-priority targets.

Its precision guidance and flexible warhead options make it an valuable asset on the modern battlefield, according to report.

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