White House Confirms Providing ATACMS to Ukraine to Use Against Russia

10:53, 18 October 2023

US Army soldiers load M39 guided Army Tactical Missiles (ATACMS) onto a truck after their arrival 18 April 1999 at Tirana airport. The US NATO contingent continues to expand as tens of thousands of Kosovar refugees flee their homeland.

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) – Kiev has received more tens of billions of dollars in security assistance from the US since the Ukraine conflict began. Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) are tactical ballistic missiles manufactured by the US defense with a long-range strike capability.

Sputnik

A White House National Security Council spokesperson confirmed to Sputnik that the United States has already provided Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) to Ukraine to use against Russian forces.

"The United States recently provided Ukraine with a type of ATACMS capable of ranging out to 165 km as part of our ongoing support for the people of Ukraine as they defend their territory against Russia’s brutal invasion," the spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The ATACMS give Ukraine the ability to strike deep area targets in Ukraine to "deny Russian forces safe haven," the spokesperson added.

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The United States believes the ATACMS will bolster Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities without risking US military readiness, according to the spokesperson.

Earlier in the day, US media reported Ukraine on Tuesday used US-supplied ATACMS for the first time to strike nearby Russian troops near Luhansk and Berdyansk.

The United States has secretly shipped a small number of ATACMS to Ukraine in recent days to provide Kiev with a long-range strike capability [about 160 km] against Russian forces amid the ongoing counteroffensive, media reported.

Russia has repeatedly stated that providing further aid to Ukraine will only prolong the conflict without contributing to its resolution.