Ukraine's new ATACMS could make Crimea "militarily worthless", war expert says
WORLD 01 May 2024 - 13:17
Long-range ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles provided by the US to Ukraine have the potential to make Crimea "militarily worthless" to Russia, Business Insider quotes an unnamed military analyst as saying.
Last week, The New York Times reported that the US had secretly shipped about 100 Army Tactical Missile Systems, known as ATACMS, to Ukraine, which has reportedly already put them to use.
The US has previously sent ATACMS with a shorter range, which aided Ukraine's fight last fall. But the versions sent recently can travel about 190 miles — which puts higher-value targets in Ukraine's crosshairs.
This includes Crimea, controlled by Russia in 2014 and crucial to its military strategy in Ukraine.
Philip Karber, a military analyst with expertise on Ukraine, told Radio Free Europe that "the delivery of ATACMS is a big breakthrough."
He said the weapons "could basically make Crimea militarily worthless."
Crimea has been heavily fortified since Russian forces took control over it, and it serves its military by both land and sea. It's home to the advanced port of Sevastopol, the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
It also serves as a crucial logistics hub and military supply route to southern Ukraine controlled by Russia, and has been the launchpad for a series of devastating Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukraine has landed many blows on Crimea before — vastly weakening Russia's Black Sea Fleet, the port of Sevastopol, and periodically targeting the strategic Kerch Bridge that connects the peninsula to Russia.
These have been variously conducted by weapons including air and naval drones, and likely the UK- and France-supplied Storm Shadow/SCALP missiles.
But ATACMS have a key advantage over Storm Shadows, Radio Free Europe reported, in that they travel much faster.
In mid-April, Ukraine claimed to have struck the Dzhankoi military base, in northern Crimea, including a prized S-400 air defense launcher, without elaborating on the weapon used. A senior US official later told the Times that it was among Ukraine's ATACMS targets.
Last month, when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged Congress to agree on an aid package for Ukraine, he pointed to ATACMS as a key weapon for targeting Crimean airfields.
"When Russia knows we can destroy these jets, they will not attack from Crimea," Zelenskyy told The Washington Post.
"It's like with the sea fleet," he added. "We pushed them from our territorial waters. Now we will push them from the airports in Crimea."
Caliber.Az
1
|
Uncertainty over Russian border guard withdrawal from Armenia Amid conflicting statements
18 May 2024 - 14:47
|
2
|
Baku's 8-0 victory Diplomacy of sovereignty
20 May 2024 - 17:53
|
3
|
Türkiye, Greece forge new geopolitical axis Amid historical rapprochement
20 May 2024 - 16:04
|
4
|
Giant meteor seen lighting up skies of Portugal
19 May 2024 - 13:11
|
5
|
Azerbaijani President warns against foreign interference in South Caucasus Emphasizes regional sovereignty
21 May 2024 - 12:56
|
Moldova, EU sign security cooperation agreement
21 May 2024 - 18:42
Minister: Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan plan joint works in Karabakh
21 May 2024 - 18:26
Azerbaijani President’s support for Turkish Cypriot rights hailed
21 May 2024 - 18:11
Macron's failures in Africa, New Caledonia, South Caucasus...
Neocolonial backlash21 May 2024 - 17:54
Bayraktar: Akıncı drone in Azerbaijan was ready to search for Iranian president's helicopter
21 May 2024 - 17:45
Parliament contemplates taxation of Armenian Apostolic Church
21 May 2024 - 17:40
Azerbaijani, Iranian FMs discuss deepening bilateral ties
21 May 2024 - 17:25
Türkiye - Greece rapprochement: Geopolitical implications, regional stability
Caliber.Az on YouTube21 May 2024 - 17:11
French MP’s absurd accusations against Azerbaijan draw ironic laughter
Hypocrisy and manipulation21 May 2024 - 17:04
Man killed in mine explosion in Azerbaijan's Tartar
21 May 2024 - 16:56
Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan strengthen ties with new cooperation agreements
21 May 2024 - 16:42
Russia favours comprehensive solution to space militarisation - Kremlin
21 May 2024 - 16:27
Physics vs. lyricism: Russia-China relations in a time of Western pressure
Is the alliance good or bad for Europe?21 May 2024 - 16:27
Azerbaijan’s economy minister invites Uzbek entrepreneurs to attend COP29
21 May 2024 - 16:13
China lodges protests with South Korea, Japan over Taiwan visit
21 May 2024 - 15:45
Armenian PM holds talks with CIA deputy director
21 May 2024 - 15:35
Houthi rebels claim they shot down another US drone
21 May 2024 - 15:30
Armenian speaker stresses importance of addressing entire border
21 May 2024 - 15:15
France to deploy more troops to troubled Pacific territory of New Caledonia
21 May 2024 - 14:59
Zelenskyy urges NATO to shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine
21 May 2024 - 14:45
President Aliyev, Uzbek minister discuss economic and Investment cooperation
21 May 2024 - 14:22
EU unwilling to join US in trade war with China, says von der Leyen
21 May 2024 - 14:08
Netanyahu denounces bid to arrest him over Gaza war
21 May 2024 - 13:53
Armenian ruling party MP calls opposition claims on border delimitation ridiculous
21 May 2024 - 13:39
Türkiye transfers all helicopter crash data to Iran
21 May 2024 - 13:24
Armenia’s ruling party dismisses possibility of early elections
Criticizes Kocharyan's efforts21 May 2024 - 13:18
Australia, New Zealand send evacuation flights to New Caledonia
21 May 2024 - 13:10
Azerbaijani President warns against foreign interference in South Caucasus
Emphasizes regional sovereignty21 May 2024 - 12:56
Egypt calls on Israel to open all checkpoints on border with Gaza
21 May 2024 - 12:41
Media: Germany ready to support US plan for $50 billion aid for Ukraine
21 May 2024 - 12:25
Russia lifts ban on petrol exports
21 May 2024 - 12:11
Iran's change of president won't affect rapprochement with Russia, China, Azerbaijan and Türkiye
Expert insight21 May 2024 - 11:57
UN closely following process of Azerbaijan-Armenia normalisation
21 May 2024 - 11:42
US offers Georgia major aid package in exchange for waiving law on foreign agents
21 May 2024 - 11:28
Azerbaijani Air Force bolsters its arsenal with another Su-25 attack aircraft upgraded in Türkiye
PHOTO21 May 2024 - 11:15
Azerbaijani troops hone skills in EFES-2024 multinational drills in Türkiye
PHOTO/VIDEO21 May 2024 - 11:02
Soaring precious metals prices encourage Azerbaijan to boost extraction
Higher revenues foreseen21 May 2024 - 10:49
Armenian FM, IAEA chief discussed further operation of Metsamor NPP
21 May 2024 - 10:36
First cargo train dispatched on expanded Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway
PHOTO21 May 2024 - 10:23
Iran announces date for snap presidential election
21 May 2024 - 10:10