The United States is looking into supplying Ukraine with a long-range missile system, the Atacms, that can strike at a range of up to 300 kilometers. And the Ukrainians want to use it to attack Crimea. The Wall Street Journal writes, citing American, European and Kiev officials. This missile defense system has a range of up to 300 kilometers and could be able to hit Russian territory far behind the front lines. So far, US President Joe Biden has not approved the transfer, partly because some US officials fear that Ukraine could use it to attack Russian territory and escalate the conflict.
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The Atacms missiles fired from the Himars launcher would allow Ukrainian forces to attack Russian hubs of logistics, command and control far beyond the front lines. The precision-guided missiles can pinpoint intelligence-identified GPS-tracked targets, preventing Russia from taking its rearguard operations out of range of Ukraine. The missiles’ long range would likely force Russia to move supplies and command posts more than 300 kilometers from the front line, making it more difficult for troops to resupply on the battlefield.
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The Wall Street Journal quoted officials as saying that approval for the delivery of the long-range missiles is pending while the US government assesses the situation on the ground in Ukraine. Meanwhile, European officials are putting private pressure on Washington to deliver longer-range missile systems. They hope that while the US has changed course on other weapons, including Abrams tanks and High Mobility Artillery Missile System (Himar) launchers, it would do the same with Atacms missiles.
The Wall Street Journal also heard from a senior Ukrainian defense official who said Kiev had received positive signals in recent weeks that the United States was ready to ditch the Atacms system. According to public statements by the United States and its European allies, Ukrainian officials believe the system is also needed for attacks on the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula, which serves as a base for launching Iranian-made drones. In early June, the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution urging the Biden administration to supply ATACMS to Ukraine, increasing pressure on the White House and Pentagon to supply the weapons. Officials in the US and Europe have now seen signs that even the previously hesitant White House is assessing the urgent need to support Ukraine’s struggle in the coming weeks.