For the first time, the Biden administration has authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied ballistic missiles for attacks inside Russia, marking a significant policy shift, according to American officials.
The missiles, known as the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), are expected to be initially utilized against Russian and North Korean troops to support Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia.
Ukraine has been advocating for this authorization for years, which comes during the final months of the Biden administration. President-elect Donald J. Trump has indicated his intention to seek a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
ATACMS, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, are short-range ballistic missiles capable of striking targets up to 190 miles away, depending on the model, with a warhead containing around 375 pounds of explosives. These missiles can reach greater distances and altitudes than artillery rockets, returning to the ground at high speeds due to gravity.
They can be launched from HIMARS mobile launchers provided by the United States, as well as from older M270 launchers supplied by Britain and Germany. While often referred to as “long-range missiles,” they are not as far-reaching as cruise missiles or intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Originally developed in the 1980s to target high-value Soviet assets, the ATACMS was designed as a guided weapon during a time when the U.S. predominantly used unguided munitions. The Pentagon currently has two versions of the ATACMS in its arsenal: a cluster munition and one with a single explosive charge.
The U.S. decision to arm Ukraine with ATACMS has been a sensitive issue since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has repeatedly requested weapons capable of striking deeper into Russian-held territory.
Although the U.S. supplied Ukraine with ATACMS last year, the Biden administration had previously withheld approval for their use against targets within Russia due to concerns that such actions might provoke a response from President Vladimir V. Putin and escalate the conflict.
President Biden has emphasized the intent to avoid a broader war, stating, “We’re trying to avoid World War III.” Some Pentagon officials have also expressed concerns regarding limited missile supplies.
Zelensky has characterized this type of weapon as critical for Ukraine's broader counteroffensive efforts, asserting that he has no intentions of targeting Russian cities or civilians. In a recent address, he implied that U.S. restrictions on the missiles might have been lifted without directly confirming it, suggesting that “the rockets will speak for themselves.”
The Russian military is reportedly preparing to launch a significant assault involving approximately 50,000 troops, including North Korean forces, aimed at retaking territory lost to Ukraine in August. The Ukrainians are expected to utilize ATACMS to target troop concentrations, crucial military equipment, logistics hubs, ammunition depots, and supply lines within Russia.
Last year, President Biden approved the supply of several hundred ATACMS for operations in Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea. However, it remains unclear how many missiles Ukraine has available for use in the Kursk region.
The U.S. military has employed ATACMS in combat previously, having fired around 30 during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 against Iraq’s missile sites. The first-generation versions could travel about 100 miles and released 950 bomblets upon reaching their targets.
Over 400 bomblet-carrying ATACMS were used in Operation Iraqi Freedom, particularly at the onset of the 2003 invasion. The Pentagon later placed restrictions on cluster munitions due to the risks posed by unexploded ordnance, leading to the refurbishment of many early ATACMS to replace bomblets with a single explosive warhead.