Joe Biden, still president of the United States, has authorized Ukraine to use ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) ballistic missiles against Russian targets within Russian territory. This turn can trigger a new scenario in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and probably consequences for the rest of the West.
What are long range missiles?
This type of weaponry was developed during the Cold War. Known as ATACMS, they are ballistic missiles designed to destroy strategic targets, such as military bases, ammunition depots and supply lines. Their range is up to 300 kilometers, allowing them to attack at greater distances than other systems that the Ukrainian army has used.
ATACMS fly at a considerable altitude and descend at dizzying speeds, making it difficult for anti-missile systems to intercept them. Although they are long-range, they do not reach the category of intercontinental ballistic missiles.
Why has Biden taken this measure?
Biden’s decision responds to several strategic and political factors. On the one hand, the presence of 10,000 North Korean soldiers who have come to fight alongside Russian forces in the Kursk region has raised tensions. On the other hand, the arrival of Donald Trump to the White House in January could alter military support for kyiv, forcing the current administration to maximize Ukraine’s defensive and offensive capabilities before a possible diplomatic rethink.
Additionally, Ukraine has pushed hard to be allowed to use more advanced weapons inside Russia, something Biden had previously rejected out of fear of an escalation of the conflict. However, the situation on the battlefield and the need to stop Russian and North Korean advances have shifted the US position.
Among the criticisms, Hungary has pointed out that this corresponds to an interested measure by the US to prolong the war, considering that it is the great beneficiary of it. A measure taken at the discount, before the arrival of Trump, whom they consider a “man of peace.”
Impact on war
The use of ATACMS will allow Ukraine to hit key targets in Kursk, a region where kyiv currently controls more than 1,000 square kilometers of territory. This could weaken Russia’s logistical and military capabilities, and ease pressure on Ukrainian troops on the front.
It remains to be seen how Russia will react and whether this decision could lead to an intensification of the conflict and greater consequences since the Kremlin has already mentioned a Third World War.
