Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has announced the inaugural use of US-supplied long-range missiles known as ATACMS. These missiles reportedly targeted Russian bases in the

eastern part of the country, allegedly destroying nine helicopters. While Ukraine has not officially confirmed the missile deployment, the operation is said to have inflicted significant casualties on Russian troops, including both fatalities and injuries.

In a social media address, President Zelensky praised the accuracy and effectiveness of the ATACMS without providing specific details regarding when or where they were employed. Notably, the Russian military has yet to respond to the situation.

Prior to this development, the Biden administration had declined to provide ATACMS to Ukraine. However, in recent weeks, the decision was reversed, and these missiles were discreetly sent to Ukraine. The goal was to catch Russia off guard in case Moscow attempted to relocate equipment and armaments beyond the missiles' reach.

Concerns about escalating tensions with Russia led to the delivery of ATACMS missiles with a reduced range compared to the system's maximum capabilities. Additionally, the variant provided to Kyiv incorporates cluster munitions, which release numerous smaller munitions in the air, rather than a single warhead. Cluster munitions are controversial and banned by over 100 nations due to their risks to civilians.

The Russian-appointed governor of the occupied region of Zaporizhzhia reported that air defense systems successfully intercepted enemy rockets over Berdyansk, adding that details about casualties and damage would be confirmed later. Nevertheless, unverified videos and reports on social media have surfaced, suggesting that the Russian bases were indeed targeted using the early MGM-140A variant of ATACMS, which has a shorter range of approximately 100 miles (160 km).

This introduction of ATACMS systems represents a significant enhancement of Ukraine's capabilities to strike deeper into Russian-held territory. The attacks on Berdyansk and Luhansk occurred at 04:00 local time and 11:00 local time, respectively. Berdyansk is strategically located between Mariupol and Crimea, roughly 53 miles from the nearest front line. Luhansk is approximately 100 km from the front line.

While the clashes along the front line continue, recent Russian bombardments in the Ukrainian-held towns of Avdiivka, Kupyansk, and Lyman have intensified. The Ukrainian counter-offensive aims to reclaim the territory in the east and south of the country occupied by Russia, but its progress has been relatively slow.

Ukraine has also conducted frequent aerial attacks on Russian positions to undermine Moscow's war efforts. In return, Russia has been attacking Ukrainian positions, with Avdiivka and Kupyansk in the east being key focal points, resulting in significant Russian casualties in recent days.

Destruction in the eastern city of Slovyansk caused by a Russian attack has led to a dormitory building's collapse, with two individuals believed to be trapped under the debris. In Odesa, debris from downed Russian drones damaged a yacht club and several yachts, although no casualties were reported. Photo by President.gov.ua, Wikimedia commons.