Business Insider: ATACMS From USA Can Make Crimea Insignificant In Military Terms

The AFU is on the verge of a major breakthrough.

Long-range ATACMS ballistic missiles provided by the US to Ukraine could make Crimea ‘militarily insignificant’ for Russia. This is written by Business Insider with reference to military analyst Philip Carber.

The media outlet reminds that the US has secretly sent about 100 army tactical missile systems known as ATACMS to Ukraine, which has already used them. The US had previously sent shorter-range ATACMS, which helped Ukraine in its fight last autumn.

‘But the versions sent recently can travel some 290 miles, which puts more high-value targets in Ukraine's crosshairs. That includes Crimea, which Russia occupied in 2014 and which is crucial to its military strategy in Ukraine,’ the publication notes.

Karber, who has experience in Ukraine, said the granting of ATACMS is a ‘major breakthrough.’

‘This weapon can essentially make Crimea militarily insignificant,’ the expert emphasised.

The media outlet notes that Ukraine has previously launched many strikes against Crimea - significantly weakening the Russian Black Sea Fleet, the port of Sevastopol and periodically striking the strategic Kerch Bridge, which connects the peninsula to Russia.

‘They have been carried out by a variety of weapons, including air and sea drones, and probably Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles supplied by Britain and France. But ATACMS have a key advantage over Storm Shadows, Radio Free Europe reported, in that they fly much faster,’ the piece said.