In the latest development, Russian air defense systems have reportedly intercepted six U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) launched by Ukraine within the past day.
What Happened: Russia’s air defense systems successfully intercepted six ATACMS missiles, Reuters reported on Tuesday. These missiles were part of a $300 million military aid package that U.S. President Joe Biden approved for Ukraine on Mar. 12, as disclosed by a U.S. official last week.
The decision to send the ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 300 km, was a subject of debate within the Biden administration for months. Mid-range ATACMS were supplied to Ukraine last September.
The Russian Defence Ministry did not disclose where the missiles were intercepted.
“Ten Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, six ATACMS tactical missiles manufactured by the United States and two guided ‘Hammer’ aircraft bombs manufactured by France were shot down by air defences,” the ministry stated.
Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-backed head of Crimea, claimed that ATACMS missiles were intercepted over the peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014. He shared a photo on Telegram showing what he described as undetonated submunitions of ATACMS missiles, without specifying the number of missiles intercepted.
Why It Matters: The interception of these missiles comes amidst escalating tensions in the region. The Biden administration had been considering providing Ukraine with long-range ballistic missiles as early as February 2024, a move that could significantly impact the ongoing conflict with Russia.
Just a day before the interception, Ukrainian troops were reported to be retreating as the conflict with Russia intensified on the eastern front. The situation has been further complicated by the confirmation of a North Korean ballistic missile landing in Ukraine’s Kharkiv in January, violating the arms embargo on North Korea.
Photo by Egor Filin on Unsplash
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