• On 19th November 2024, Russia's Defence Ministry reported that Ukraine launched six US-made ATACMS missiles at Russia's Bryansk region.
  • This occurred shortly after US President Joe Biden eased restrictions on the use of American-made weapons by Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.
  • The Russian ministry stated that five of the missiles were shot down by the Russian military, and a sixth missile was destroyed.
  • The debris from the missiles fell on an unspecified military facility, causing a fire.
  • Fortunately, no casualties were reported from the incident.
  • Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed it hit a military weapons depot in Bryansk in the early hours of the morning, but did not specify which weapons were used for the attack.
  • The Ukrainian General Staff reported that several explosions were heard in the targeted area.

US LIFTS RESTRICTIONS ON LONG RANGE MISSILES

  • President Joe Biden authorized the use of US-supplied long-range missiles, allowing Ukraine to target areas deeper inside Russia.
  • This change came after Russia's President Vladimir Putin had positioned North Korean troops along Ukraine's northern border, likely in an effort to reclaim territories that had been captured by Ukrainian forces.
  • Russia reacted strongly to this move, stating that the decision to send long-range American missiles to Ukraine "marks a new round of tension" in the Ukraine-Russia war.

RUSSIA’S NEW NUCLEAR DOCTRINE

  • On the same day, Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine.
  • Under this new policy, Russia declared that any conventional attack on the country that is supported by a nuclear power would be considered a joint attack on Russia.
  • This indicates that Russia would view an attack involving nuclear support as a nuclear threat.
ABOUT ARMY TACTICAL MISSILE SYSTEMS (ATACMS) The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a powerful surface-to-surface missile used by the US military and several other countries.

key facts about this weapon:

  • Manufacturer: Lockheed Martin (US-based defense company).
  • Alternate Name: Also known as the M39 in the US Army, and MGM-140 as per the Department of Defense (DoD).
  • First Use: The missile was first used during the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
  • Operators: Apart from the US, the missile is operated by countries like Bahrain, Greece, South Korea, Taiwan, and the United Arab Emirates.

KEY FEATURES

  • Range: The missile has a range of approximately 190 miles (305 km).
  • Guidance: It is an inertially guided ballistic missile, capable of striking targets with high accuracy.
  • Propulsion: The missile uses a single-stage solid propellant.
  • All-Weather Capability: It can be launched in all weather conditions, 24/7.
  • Firing Platforms: The ATACMS is launched from two main systems:
    • High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS)
    • M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS)
  • Payload: The missile can carry cluster munitions, which release hundreds of bomblets over a large area, causing extensive damage by hitting multiple targets rather than using a single warhead.