Ukraine strikes deep into Russia with first ATACMS attack
- Ukraine has long-range strike capabilities, including domestically produced drones and now long-range Neptunes. We also have ATACMS. We will use all of these resources - said Volodymyr Zelensky. However, the President of Ukraine did not reveal details of the attack on the depot near Bryansk.
2:13 PM EST, November 19, 2024
President Volodymyr Zelensky did not confirm whether the attack on the depot near Bryansk was carried out using U.S. ATACMS missiles, but he stated that Ukraine possesses long-range strike capabilities and intends to utilize them.
- Without unnecessary details. Ukraine has long-range strike capabilities, with domestically produced drones and now long-range Neptunes. We also have ATACMS. We will use all of these - Zelensky said in response to a question about the strike on the Russian ammunition depot.
Ukraine attacked with ATACMS missiles
The first use of ATACMS missiles to attack Russian territory reportedly occurred on the night from Monday to Tuesday, as reported by the RBK-Ukraine portal, citing a military source. The report added that the target, an ammunition depot near Bryansk, was successfully hit.
The source conveyed that Ukrainians struck a military site near the town of Karachev in the Bryansk region of Russia. - Indeed, ATACMS were used for the first time to attack Russian territory - emphasized the service's interlocutor. Karachev is located about 80 miles from the border with Ukraine.
Earlier on Tuesday, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the Ukrainian army struck on the night from Monday to Tuesday at a weapons depot near the town of Karachev in the Bryansk region. The head of the Center for Counteracting Disinformation, Andriy Kovalinko, informed that North Korean artillery ammunition was destroyed.
The Russian Defense Ministry confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that the Ukrainian military used ATACMS missiles. According to the ministry, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked the area at night with six such missiles in the Bryansk region. It was conveyed that five missiles were shot down, and one was "damaged." Fragments of this damaged missile reportedly fell onto the military site's grounds, and a fire broke out. It was assured that no casualties or material damages were reported due to the attack.
Reuters, citing anonymous sources, reported on Sunday that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden gave the green light to Ukraine to use American weapons to strike targets deep within Russia. Other media conveyed similar information through sources in the U.S. administration.
Reuters announced that Ukraine was supposed to carry out the first attacks in the coming days using ATACMS missiles with a range of about 190 miles. According to these reports, the change in the U.S. decision regarding the use of American missiles was influenced by Russia's deployment of North Korean ground troops on the front lines.
