Long sought by Ukrainian leaders, the new missiles give the country nearly double the striking distance – up to 190 miles – that it had with the mid-range version of the weapon that it received from the US last October.
The US is providing more of these missiles in a new military aid package signed by Mr Biden on Wednesday.
The two US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the delivery before it became public, would not provide the exact number of missiles given last month or in the latest aid package, which totals about $1 billion.
Ukraine has been forced to ration its weapons and is facing increasing Russian attacks. Ukraine had been begging for the long-range system because the missiles provide a critical ability to strike Russian targets that are farther away, allowing Ukrainian forces to stay safely out of range.
Information about the delivery was kept so quiet that lawmakers and others in recent days have been demanding that the US send the weapons not knowing they were already in Ukraine.
For months, the US resisted sending Ukraine the long-range missiles out of concern that Kyiv could use them to hit deep into Russian territory, enraging Moscow and escalating the conflict. That was a key reason the administration sent the mid-range version, with a range of roughly 100 miles, in October instead.
A senior US military official said Wednesday that the White House and military planners looked carefully at the risks of providing long-range fires to Ukraine and determined that the time was right to provide them now.
Adml Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Associated Press in an interview that long-range weapons would help Ukraine take out Russian logistics nodes and troop concentrations that are not on the front lines. He declined to identify what specific weapons were being provided but said they will be “very disruptive if used properly, and I’m confident they will be”.
Like many of the other sophisticated weapons systems provided to Ukraine, the administration weighed up whether their use would risk further escalating the conflict.
Or i guess if thats to extreme atleast blow up Kerch bridge
They should all be used in the south to clear all of the logistics hubs and to provide needed clearing for a southern push.
[deleted]
[deleted]
I knew it… You know never let you enemy know your next move, always keep them guessing…
What do you mean secretly…
Do all other weapons come with a time table in local newspapers?
Next week 1600 hours well be sending your tanks.
We ask every enemy presence to stay away from the railways.. Cause of all the weapons well be sending then.
Thnk you
Secretly? It’s an open item on the aid package. Biden himself acknowledged them. If they’re already there in use, that’s a different story.
Psst. Guys it’s a secret
no way – while the US was telling the ukraines – lets not take out the Z infrastructure *wink wink* we were sending them weapons…. nahhhh
Isn’t that what the CIA are for?
isnt this missle a little bit too big comparing to others?
Probably announcing now as there’s more value in getting Russia to react and move stuff vs hit targets one at a time. May force them to rethink any assault knowing Ukraine can hit their lines really deep.
AI pic. Rocket too big for launcher
Mr. Pootin, TEAR DOWN THAT BRIDGE.
With a little help from our friends.
Joe Biden is the Man
Knowing how long and a mess it was to get aid, hopefully Ukraine can really use it. Who knows if they’ll get anymore aid
21 comments
**From The Telegraph:**
The US has secretly sent long-range ballistic missiles to Ukraine for the first time and they [have already been used on the battlefield](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/24/russia-advances-5-miles-after-error-by-ukraine-forces/), officials said on Wednesday.
Joe Biden approved delivery of the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, known as ATACMS, in early March, and the US included a “significant” number of them [in a $300 million aid package](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/24/ukraine-aid-bill-us-senate-israel-war-taiwan-joe-biden/) announced at the time, it has emerged.
Long sought by Ukrainian leaders, the new missiles give the country nearly double the striking distance – up to 190 miles – that it had with the mid-range version of the weapon that it received from the US last October.
The US is providing more of these missiles in a new military aid package signed by Mr Biden on Wednesday.
The two US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the delivery before it became public, would not provide the exact number of missiles given last month or in the latest aid package, which totals about $1 billion.
The long-range ATACMS was used by Ukraine [to bomb a Russian military airfield in Crimea](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/comment/2024/04/24/ukraine-aid-russia-war-crimea-supply-line-us-atacms/) last week.
Ukraine has been forced to ration its weapons and is facing increasing Russian attacks. Ukraine had been begging for the long-range system because the missiles provide a critical ability to strike Russian targets that are farther away, allowing Ukrainian forces to stay safely out of range.
Information about the delivery was kept so quiet that lawmakers and others in recent days have been demanding that the US send the weapons not knowing they were already in Ukraine.
For months, the US resisted sending Ukraine the long-range missiles out of concern that Kyiv could use them to hit deep into Russian territory, enraging Moscow and escalating the conflict. That was a key reason the administration sent the mid-range version, with a range of roughly 100 miles, in October instead.
A senior US military official said Wednesday that the White House and military planners looked carefully at the risks of providing long-range fires to Ukraine and determined that the time was right to provide them now.
Adml Christopher Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told The Associated Press in an interview that long-range weapons would help Ukraine take out Russian logistics nodes and troop concentrations that are not on the front lines. He declined to identify what specific weapons were being provided but said they will be “very disruptive if used properly, and I’m confident they will be”.
Like many of the other sophisticated weapons systems provided to Ukraine, the administration weighed up whether their use would risk further escalating the conflict.
**Continue reading** ⬇️
[https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/24/joe-biden-us-secretly-sent-long-range-missiles-to-ukraine/](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2024/04/24/joe-biden-us-secretly-sent-long-range-missiles-to-ukraine/)
Hope they are able to fuck up something big!
Blow up the Kremlin!
Or i guess if thats to extreme atleast blow up Kerch bridge
They should all be used in the south to clear all of the logistics hubs and to provide needed clearing for a southern push.
[deleted]
[deleted]
I knew it… You know never let you enemy know your next move, always keep them guessing…
What do you mean secretly…
Do all other weapons come with a time table in local newspapers?
Next week 1600 hours well be sending your tanks.
We ask every enemy presence to stay away from the railways.. Cause of all the weapons well be sending then.
Thnk you
Secretly? It’s an open item on the aid package. Biden himself acknowledged them. If they’re already there in use, that’s a different story.
Psst. Guys it’s a secret
no way – while the US was telling the ukraines – lets not take out the Z infrastructure *wink wink* we were sending them weapons…. nahhhh
Isn’t that what the CIA are for?
isnt this missle a little bit too big comparing to others?
Reminds me of Randy….. Because its a secret.
https://giphy.com/gifs/southparkgifs-l0HlIuKx7UaY8sXa8
Not so secretly
Blow up Putins houses.
Probably announcing now as there’s more value in getting Russia to react and move stuff vs hit targets one at a time. May force them to rethink any assault knowing Ukraine can hit their lines really deep.
AI pic. Rocket too big for launcher
Mr. Pootin, TEAR DOWN THAT BRIDGE.
With a little help from our friends.
Joe Biden is the Man
Knowing how long and a mess it was to get aid, hopefully Ukraine can really use it. Who knows if they’ll get anymore aid