Ukraine's strategic edge: Depletion of long-range missiles

ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) is one of the few long-range weapons provided to Kyiv as part of the Western support. The American ballistic missiles can strike targets up to a maximum of 160 kilometres or even 300 kilometres away, depending on the variant.

The Associated Press cites an American official and a Ukrainian defence committee member who provided the information under the condition of anonymity. Both confirmed that the ATACMS ballistic missiles were depleted by Ukraine by the end of January.

The number of ATACMS ballistic missiles supplied to Ukraine was never disclosed, although former Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin suggested that only modest stockpiles of this weaponry had reached the front. According to Associated Press findings, it was merely 40 units.

It has not been determined whether additional missiles of this type will be included in new aid packages currently heading to Ukraine. The United States resumed arms shipments to the front following a meeting between the American and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia.

Previous reports from Ukraine indicated that the Americans had provided the army fighting against Russia with both older (M39 from the 1990s containing 950 M74 bomblets) and newer (most likely M39A1) variants of the ATACMS ballistic missiles. The latter have fewer submunitions but feature more precise satellite navigation as a supplement to inertial navigation and a larger engine.

The ATACMS missiles were used by Ukrainians for effective strikes on targets, including those in occupied Crimea and on Russian territory. For instance, they hit ammunition depots in the Bryansk region and the Chalino airfield in the Kursk region. Strikes on targets in Russia with American weapons became possible after the Biden administration granted Ukraine permission in November 2024.