Long-range Army tactical missile system (ATACMS) – Photo: RIA NOVOSTI
Speaking on April 25, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the long-range Army tactical missile systems (ATACMS) that the US sent to Ukraine will not be able to stop the Russian army in the Ukrainian battlefield.
“We will still achieve our goals in the northern military region. Even if Washington sends ATACMS missiles to Ukraine, it will cause more problems for Kiev itself,” RIA News Agency (Russia) quoted Mr. Peskov as saying.
Earlier on the morning of April 25, US State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel confirmed that Washington had transferred ATACMS missiles to Kiev for use in Ukrainian territory, and that the above long-range missile systems would arrive in Kiev in the near future. this month.
Meanwhile, according to Sputnik News Agency (Russia), the Ukrainian army “secretly” received ATACMS systems since March and has twice used these missiles to attack targets on Russian territory.
On the other hand, Western media reported that older ATACMS systems have been present in Ukraine since late last year. But the new version that Washington just sent to Kiev can double the range, to 300km.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky once threatened to use ATACMS missiles received from the US to attack airports in the Crimean peninsula.
Also on April 25, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that Washington was still skeptical about Ukraine’s promise not to use ATACMS missiles to attack Russian territory.
Regarding this issue, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan previously expressed confidence that Kiev will keep its promise not to use ATACMS missiles outside of Ukraine.
Regarding the number of ATACMS missiles, RIA quoted information from the newspaper New York Times The US said Washington had transferred more than 100 ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.
“In mid-February, President (Joe Biden) secretly approved the decision to send more than 100 ATACMS missiles as well as a large number of cluster bombs, as part of a $300 million arms transfer to Ukraine. in March”, sheet New York Times said a well-informed source.
On the contrary, the Russian military also announced that it was able to successfully counter the weapons that Washington sent to Ukraine. Specifically, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced last week that it had intercepted three ATACMS missiles in the Black Sea region.
Since October 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin has called the US decision to send ATACMS missiles to Ukraine a mistake. Because, according to the Russian leader, this weapon only creates more threats and does not help change the situation on the battlefield.
