On November 19, 2024, the Ukrainian Armed Forces launched their first attack against a Russian military facility using ATACMS ballistic missiles provided by the United States. The attack targeted an arsenal near the city of Karachev in the Bryansk region, an important step in Ukraine’s efforts to strike Russian military targets in the rear. According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, 12 secondary explosions were recorded as a result of the attack, confirming the success of the operation.
Although long-range attacks on Russian territory will not lead to an immediate turning point in the war, they can significantly weaken the Russian rear. Attacks on logistics and supply facilities will complicate the operations of the Russian army in the border areas, increasing the burden on the air defense system and making troop maneuvers difficult. It could also force Russia to reallocate its resources, slowing operations on the front and creating additional troop supply problems.
Previously, Vladimir Putin threatened NATO with retaliatory strikes if Ukraine used long-range weapons on Russian territory. With this coup the Kremlin’s “red line” has been violated and now the world will closely follow Russia’s reaction.
