On the 1,000th day of the conflict, Ukraine made history by firing US-built Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) into Russian territory for the first time, aiming at a Bryansk weapons complex. Russia’s Defense Ministry confirmed the incident, which took place early Tuesday, and said that six ballistic missiles were fired. Five were stopped, and the sixth started a small fire that was put out right away. No damage or casualties were recorded.
The strike came just days after US President Joe Biden authorized the use of these longer-range missiles inside Russia, ending a prior restriction aimed at preventing escalation. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky declined to directly confirm the attack but emphasized Ukraine’s growing long-range strike capabilities, mentioning ATACMS alongside Ukraine’s indigenous Neptune cruise missiles and long-range drones.
This marks a new phase in the conflict, with Kyiv wasting no time deploying its newly acquired weaponry. The ATACMS launch follows Russia’s intensifying winter strategy of targeting Ukraine’s infrastructure and pummeling its cities with missile and drone attacks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces continue counteroffensives in the east.
The geopolitical stakes are rising, as evidenced by Russian President Vladimir Putin revising the country’s nuclear doctrine. The updated policy considers aggression from any non-nuclear state, in collaboration with a nuclear power, a joint attack warranting a nuclear response. Western allies have expressed caution, with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz warning against further missile provisions, while Moscow condemned the use of US-made weapons as a Western escalation.
US officials, including Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh, downplayed the immediate threat of nuclear escalation, labeling Russia’s rhetoric as consistent with past responses. However, this escalation underscores the mounting tensions as Ukraine seeks to leverage advanced weaponry in its push for victory. With North Korean troops reportedly aiding Russia and Western support deepening for Ukraine, the conflict edges closer to broader geopolitical ramifications.