FACTBOX - ATACMS: What to know about the US missiles Ukraine used to attack Russia

By Beril Canakci

ISTANBUL (AA) — A day after it was reported that US President Joe Biden allowed Ukraine to use American-made munitions to strike areas deeper inside Russia, Kyiv fired long-range missiles into the Bryansk region.

A military facility in Bryansk, which sits on the border between the two warring countries, was the target, Russia's Defense Ministry said after the attack, which used army tactical missile systems, or ATACMS.

The ministry said five missiles were intercepted by Russia's air defenses, while a sixth was damaged and crashed into the military facility, causing a fire.

Hours before the attack, Russian President Vladimir Putin officially lowered the threshold for his country's use of nuclear arms.

The nuclear doctrine update was announced by the Kremlin, stating that Moscow could launch such a strike if attacked by a non-nuclear state backed by a nuclear power — something Ukraine is now more capable of doing thanks to the US-supplied ATACMS.

- What are ATACMS?

The army tactical missile systems that Ukraine used in the attack on Bryansk are US-made surface-to-surface missiles developed by defense manufacturer Lockheed Martin with a range of up to 300 kilometers (186 miles).

Launched from HIMARS or MLRS M270 platforms, they can carry either cluster munitions or high-explosive warheads.

While ATACMS are often described as "long-range," they can reach distances greater than other Ukrainian missiles but still fall short of cruise or intercontinental ballistic missiles.

First used during the Gulf War in 1991, the $1.5 million missiles are valued for their precision and ability to strike deep behind enemy lines.

For comparison, the HIMARS system, also provided by the US, has a shorter range of up to 80 kilometers and is primarily used to target tactical positions.

The UK and France have also supplied long-range missiles, known as Storm Shadow, to Ukraine, capable of precision strikes up to 250 kilometers.

With the US authorizing the use of ATACMS, the UK and France could potentially follow suit, lifting restrictions on Ukraine to use Storm Shadows against targets on Russian soil, as the missiles share similar capabilities.

- How will they affect the battlefield?

Ukraine began using short-range versions of ATACMS missiles in its war against Russia in October 2023.

The missiles allow Kyiv to strike areas in regions like Kursk, where its forces seized control of dozens of Russian settlements in an incursion in August. Possible targets included ammunition depots, supply lines, and military bases.

Russian forces have reportedly relocated military equipment further inside the country's territory in anticipation of such strikes.

While the ATACMS offer a strategic advantage, with their limited numbers, they are unlikely to significantly alter the war’s trajectory as Russia has made gradual advances in eastern Ukraine.

- Why did US shift its position?

Since the war’s onset, Ukraine has lobbied Western allies for advanced weapons to strike Russian targets, hoping to weaken Moscow’s military and improve its negotiating position.

The Biden administration had long opposed strikes inside Russia, fearing they could escalate the conflict and potentially draw NATO into direct confrontation with nuclear-armed Moscow.

Biden's change of heart reportedly came after the deployment of North Korean troops in support of Russian forces against Ukraine, and just weeks before the president's term ends in January.

His successor, President-elect Donald Trump, has promised to negotiate a swift end to the Ukraine war.