The United States sent long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine before the adoption of new aid by the American Congress on Tuesday, as announced by the State Department on Wednesday. President Joe Biden had made the request for the shipment in February, and the missiles arrived in Ukraine this month as part of the latest aid package sent on March 12. The inclusion of the missiles in the March package was not announced at the time to maintain operational security for Ukraine, as requested.
The ATACMS missiles, also known as MGM-140, have a much greater range than the missiles Ukraine previously had, with some versions reaching up to 300 km. This delivery of missiles has been eagerly awaited by Volodymyr Zelensky’s soldiers as they are crucial for Ukraine’s success in the conflict. The arrival of these missiles is seen as a major turning point in the conflict, although there were concerns in the past that such a delivery could intensify the conflict with Russia.
Since 2022, Ukraine has had rocket launchers capable of firing ATACMS missiles, but modifications were made to ensure they could not fire long-range missiles. The recent delivery of longer-range ATACMS missiles will provide Ukraine with increased capabilities in the conflict. This delivery comes at a critical time and may have implications on the direction of the conflict with Russia.