Ukraine: What the new American missiles will change in the face of Russia

The Biden administration has just authorized the use of ATACMS missiles, supplied by the United States to the Ukrainian army against Russia. Their range is estimated at several hundred kilometers.

A major strategic shift. On Sunday, November 17, 2024, Washington gave Ukraine the green light to strike Russian territory with long-range missiles supplied by the United States, as indicated by a US official to AFP. This decision comes after new Russian attacks that targeted the Ukrainian energy network and left ten dead. It also responds to a long-standing request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

In fact, this decision by US President Joe Biden – in office until January 20, 2025 – offers Ukraine a new, significant military option, allowing it to consider a possible response after Moscow's violent counterattack. Indeed, the last weekend of massive Russian strikes, supported by by nearly 50,000 men including a reinforcement of 10,000 North Koreans in the Russian region of Kursk conquered by kyiv in August 2024, hastened Joe Biden's decision to deliver the famous long-range missiles.

The priority for Ukraine is clear: to retain a piece of Russian territory, especially before the inauguration of Donald Trump, who announced during his campaign that he would resolve the war “in 24 hours” and is regularly very critical of American aid to Ukraine. Also on Sunday, a close foreign policy adviser to Donald Trump, Richard Grenell, did not mince his words about Joe Biden's decision: “Nobody anticipated that Joe Biden would cause an escalation in the war in Ukraine during the transition period. It's like he's starting a new war altogether. Everything has changed now. All previous calculations are null and void. “And all this for politics,” he lashed out.

The White House is talking about a preventive change of heart, which could involve convincing North Korean leader Kim Jong-un of the damage caused by his involvement in Ukraine, particularly in terms of the human toll. However, it is impossible to know the details of the mutual defense agreement between Russia and North Korea, especially in terms of nuclear matters. Until now, the United States' refusal to supply these missiles to Ukraine was based on fears of escalation on the Russian side. In reality, the escalation did take place, with North Korean soldiers present alongside Vladimir Putin's army.

Ballistic missiles with a range of 300 km

While the use of American long-range missiles could significantly change the face of the Ukrainian army, what are we really talking about? ? These are long-range MGM-140 ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) ballistic surface-to-surface missiles, capable of hitting a target up to 300 kilometers away. These devices travel at a speed close to that of sound. The first missiles were delivered to kyiv in October 2023, but their range was limited to 165 kilometers. The new ATACMS missiles will therefore be able to reach targets further inside Russian territory.

In fact, Ukraine already had some of them at its disposal, but it did not have permission to use them on Russian territory. It was confined to use on Russian targets in the occupied territories of Ukraine, in annexed Crimea and in Russian border regions directly linked to the fighting with Moscow.

Logistics sites, airfields… The new targets

These American-made ballistic missiles could allow Kiev to reach Russian army logistics sites and airfields from which its bombers take off. An asset that the Ukrainian army sorely lacked until now. Already used in the Gulf War, then during the invasion of Iraq in 2003, these missiles contain no less than 170 kilos of explosives according to the New York Times and are equipped with a specialized GPS system. Unsurprisingly, the first target could be the Russian border region of Kursk, where Russian troops are being aided by North Korean soldiers.

Could Washington's green light spark a fuse between Russia and the West?? Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned that such a move would mean that “NATO countries are at war with Russia.” At the same time, this late but strong move by the United States could prompt other allies to do the same, for example the United Kingdom.