First hit by a long-range US missile in Crimea: Ukraine uses Atakm again. There is cause for celebration, but it is very restricted.

Cape Tarkankot – “When thousands of shrapnel fall on an anti-aircraft battery, there is nothing left,” Thomas Thiener said last September. world Tell. The former Italian artilleryman commented on the potential impact of the Atakum (Army Tactical Missile Systems) missile with cluster munitions. It seems like something like this has happened again. Newsweek Reports, citing various sources, stated that Ukraine It is possible that Crimea has been attacked again with Atakum missiles, and perhaps even with cluster munitions again. Vladimir Putin An S-300 anti-aircraft battery was now lost in the final attack. There is also talk of launching a strike against Russian positions in occupied southeastern Ukraine Daily news This is done using Atacms.

Newsweek It refers to Channel Newsweek Very cheerful. As happened last fall, when Ukraine dealt a strong blow to the Russian Air Force for the first time; Until the New Zurich Times The topic lit up: “Blistering flames, huge clouds of smoke, and the outline of a combat helicopter against the red night sky: video images of inferno at the military airport in the Russian-occupied city of Berdyansk on October 17, 2023.” He immediately made it clear that the Russian Air Force had suffered a serious blow. It was soon confirmed that a new weapon was being used here: Ukraine fired American Atakum missiles for the first time.

„Putin's Nightmare”: The modern Ataxus symbolizes the principle of hope in Ukraine

Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden I paid for the supply of this weapon. Ukraine will be able to travel long distances because the United States has delivered the current type with a range of up to 300 kilometers. The headline read: “With this weapon, Putin’s nightmare has come true.” world In September, when the first batch of missiles, the older type with a range of less than 200 kilometers, had probably just arrived at the front. It symbolizes the principle of hope, which the defenders of Russian terrorism seem to be using at every straw they have, because the situation in Ukraine is like a nightmare. Even if a battery in the Crimea were destroyed, it would be a drop in the ocean, even though it is world “All Russian facilities are in grave danger,” she responded again animatedly, wanting to know.

Online time It's more realistic – if not downright pessimistic: from their point of view, this would be the right weapon – but a year too late: „There is more promise in the missile than it can deliver,” wrote author Alexander Edlin. In fact, the number of Atacms delivered appears to be unclear. The first batch last fall described this Daily news As a “very small number”, it is now reported time according to The New York Times An additional 100 missiles were delivered – their advantage is that they can be launched from HIMARS missile launchers already in use in Ukraine.

Impact in Crimea: There is no tactical value without the use of ground forces

Meanwhile, the US has also reportedly delivered the modernized version with a range of up to 300 km and GPS, perhaps due to Russia's now significant superiority. This certainly gives Ukraine operational opportunities, but on the other hand, this is also an argument Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Caution: With Ukraine's ability to operate over longer distances, it is simply pushing Russian airfields, warehouses, or staging areas into the heart of Russia: a missile attack without follow-up ground forces will therefore not achieve long-term tactical success. .

Even the current attack on the air defenses in Crimea may be a successful event, but it is certainly unique – in contrast to the ongoing drone-assisted attack on the Black Sea Fleet, which has established Ukraine as a regional naval power. But what is more threatening is the war of attrition that Ukraine has been waging with increasing force for months, behind the lines of contact. Attrition is likely to increase with the new delivery of precision American Atakam missiles with a range of up to 300 kilometers. world He was drafted blue late last year. There are still few signs of that.

Time is ticking for Russia, but the clock may be ticking for the Crimean Bridge

The big bang may already be imminent. The Crimean Bridge remains a thorn in the side of Ukraine, which would become more vulnerable again with new missiles. But it is questionable how many missiles Ukraine would have to invest in order to cut off the lifeline of Russian supplies. At least Russia had time to use the months of wrangling the United States has witnessed to prepare itself. Since the successful attack by Ukraine in October, the Russians have had the opportunity to prepare for this threat ISW He writes. The Russians could have moved their warehouses back and better protected them against air raids.

The West remains somewhat concerned about the use of the weapon and Moscow's response in the event of an ATACM strike to the heart of Russia. Weapons are expressly intended for such “use within its territory.” Daily news Quoted by Jake Sullivan, the President's National Security Advisor. Currently – on April 28 – the news agency reported Reuters Based on renewed demand from Ukraine to the USA. In his weekly video address, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he recently spoke with US House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and asked him to hurry up: “In my conversation with Mr. Jeffries, I stressed the need for Patriot systems, and as quickly as possible.” „.

Cutting supplies: Ukraine's chance to stabilize the front

Reuters At the same time, reports indicate that the situation on the front in Ukraine is deteriorating: since the capture of the city of Avdiivka, Moscow's forces have been advancing slowly, taking advantage of the defenders' lack of artillery and soldiers. The Kiev forces were to take up new positions west of the villages of Berdykhi and Semenivka, both north of Avdiivka, and Novomikhylivka, south near the town of Marinka. “In general, the enemy achieved certain tactical successes in these areas, but was unable to achieve operational advantages,” Laut said. Reuters Colonel-General Oleksandr Sersky, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.