Ukrainian sources have been seeking approval from Washington to utilize US-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to target locations deep within Russia. The ATACMS are high-speed ballistic missiles capable of reaching distances of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles) and can carry a warhead containing approximately 170 kilograms (375 lbs) of explosives.
Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the ATACMS are specifically designed to be launched from either a Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) or a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), both of which have been provided to Ukraine by the United States. These missiles have the capability to strike deeper into Russian territory compared to any other missile currently possessed by Ukraine.
In addition to the ATACMS, Ukraine also possesses the Storm Shadow missile, a French-British-made weapon with a range of around 250 kilometers (155 miles), falling short of the ATACMS range. While the United Kingdom and France have declined Ukraine's request to target locations within Russia, these missiles have been used to target Crimea, a region that Russia annexed in 2014 and claims as its own.
It remains uncertain whether the recent approval from US President Joe Biden will influence the leaders of the UK and France to grant Ukraine similar permissions for the weapons they have supplied. The geopolitical implications of such decisions could have far-reaching consequences in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
