The Institute for the Study of Wars (ISW) reported that the Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) provided by the U.S. pose a threat to Russian rear ammunition depots.
According to The Kyiv Independent the ATACMS are likely to force Russian command to choose between bolstering existing ammunition depots or further distributing them in the occupied parts of Ukraine. Washington confirmed on Tuesday that the U.S. has sent long-range missiles to Ukraine after the Ukrainian military announced they were used on the battlefield for the first time..
Comparison with arrival of the HIMARS in June 2022
The ISW analysts drew a parallel to the arrival of HIMARS in Ukraine in June 2022. At that time, it enabled Ukrainian forces to initiate a significant containment campaign targeting highly concentrated Russian ammunition depots. Moscow subsequently refrained from utilizing such depots. “The Russian military has repeatedly demonstrated that it can adapt to new Ukrainian assault capabilities – however, only after suffering initial and noticeable losses from Ukrainian capabilities that Russian commanders realistically should have prepared for,” concluded the ISW.
Image: Presidential Executive Office of Russia, Visit to joint staff of military branches involved in special military operation 04, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (image resized)