On the night of 19 November, Ukraine conducted its first-ever strike on Russian territory using US-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles. The strike targeted a facility in the Bryansk Region, according to reports from RBC-Ukraine, citing sources within the Defence Forces, and journalist Yuriy Butusov.
“Indeed, it was the first time ATACMS was used to strike Russian territory. The target, located in the Bryansk Region, was successfully hit,” a source confirmed.
The facility, situated in the village of Karachev near Bryansk, is approximately 130 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Journalist Yuriy Butusov, referencing sources from Censor.Net, reported that the missile strike was carried out with US approval.
“For the first time in history, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles to strike a military facility inside Russia,” Butusov stated.
While he noted that these long-range strikes are unlikely to result in an immediate shift in the war, they are expected to deliver significant blows to the Russian army’s rear infrastructure. The strikes will:
- Complicate Russian military logistics and maneuvers in border areas.
- Force Russia to stretch its air defense systems even further.
- Put critical Russian facilities hundreds of kilometers from the border under direct threat.
Ukraine’s use of ATACMS represents a major escalation in its military capabilities, highlighting the growing role of Western-supplied weapons in its defence strategy.