The United States sent a new long-range missile system to Ukraine secretly last week, which Ukrainian forces immediately used to launch attacks on a Russian military airfield in Crimea and Russian troops in the country’s southeast. The system supplied was a longer-range version of the Army Tactical Missile Systems, with missiles capable of reaching deep into occupied Ukraine, including Crimea and supply nodes for Russian forces. The decision to send more than 100 of these longer-range missiles was approved by President Biden in February, as part of a $300 million shipment of weapons to Ukraine in March, the first new aid package for the country since funding ran out in December.
Administration officials kept the shipment secret to avoid tipping off the Russians, as the United States has provided long-range weapons to Ukraine in the past resulting in severe damage to Russian forces. President Biden and his top aides decided to donate the longer-range missiles due to a shift in policy. The missiles were among the last major weapons systems that Ukraine wanted, and the United States was initially reluctant to provide. The decision was influenced by the Army deciding to keep more of the missiles, concerns about Russian use of ballistic missiles, and attacks against critical infrastructure motivating Ukraine’s plea for weapons that could counter those threats.
The $60.8 billion aid package for Ukraine signed by President Biden included additional longer-range missiles, further bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities. The initial strike using the new missiles resulted in large fires and explosions at a military airfield in Crimea, causing significant damage according to social media accounts. The $300 million arms package cobbled together from savings on contracts included air defense interceptors, artillery rounds, and armor systems, providing Ukraine with only a few weeks’ worth of arms and ammunition. Ukraine is in need of air defense systems as Russia continues its bombardment of towns, particularly in the east.
Key members of Congress were notified about the secret shipment of ATACMS in the $300 million arms package in March. As the strikes by the longer-range weapons became public, proponents of sending advanced weaponry to Ukraine praised their performance. While some American military officials have warned about the limited number of ATACMS available, advocates of arming Ukraine have dismissed fears of escalating the conflict with Russia and urged the White House to provide the weapons Ukrainian officials say they need to win. Russian troops have been advancing quickly into villages in eastern Ukraine, while Ukrainian troops continue to struggle to hold their lines.
The United States had previously provided Ukraine with the Army Tactical Missile Systems armed with wide-spreading cluster munitions that can travel 100 miles. The longer-range version of the missiles has been long coveted by Ukraine, and the recent shipment marked a significant escalation in Ukraine’s capabilities. President Zelensky thanked the top Ukrainian commander for the success of the recent missile strike but did not provide detailed information on the attack. The decision to send the longer-range missiles was a significant policy shift by President Biden and his administration, driven by various factors including military considerations and the changing dynamics of the conflict in Ukraine.
