The United States confirmed on Wednesday that it had secretly delivered a long-range Atacms missile system to Ukraine, a move that has been condemned by Russia. The delivery consisted of a new missile system with a range of more than 305 kilometers, as reported by The New York Times. The decision to send the missile system was approved by President Joe Biden in February, with the shipment being kept secret to prevent the Russians from being informed about its movement. The missiles arrived in Ukraine in April, and were immediately deployed on the eastern front.
Ukrainian forces utilized the Atacms system to attack a Russian military airfield in Crimea, as well as against Russian troops in the southeastern part of the country. Russia has strongly denounced the transmission of the long-range missiles, citing increased security threats to its territories. The Russian Ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, called the secret sending of the missiles unjustifiable, claiming that it poses a threat to regions including Crimea and Sevastopol which Russia considers part of its territory.
Even after the confirmation of the Atacms transmission, Russia expressed concerns about the potential threat of the missiles being used on the Crimean bridge. The fear is that Ukraine could target the bridge with the long-range missiles, which would result in a significant escalation of tensions in the region. Despite these fears, the United States included the missile system in a larger arms shipment to Ukraine in March, part of an aid package worth $300 million.
While short-range Atacms missiles had been previously sent to Ukraine, long-range missiles had always been at the top of Ukraine’s wish list. The United States had been hesitant to provide weapon systems that would allow Ukraine to attack deeper into Russia. Additionally, Ukraine had been requesting long-range Taurus missiles from Germany, but the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had been reluctant to fulfill this request. During a visit to Berlin, Scholz reiterated his decision not to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine, fearing an escalation of the conflict.
Despite the challenges in obtaining long-range missile systems, Europe has expressed its commitment to supporting Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The ongoing conflict between Russia and NATO continues to be a focus of international concern, with efforts being made to de-escalate tensions in the region. The delivery of the Atacms system to Ukraine marks a significant development in the conflict, further complicating the geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe.