Italy criticises Ukraine for wasting six ATACMS on single Russian target VIDEO

According to an article, Bulgarian Military unveils that the strategic use of advanced missile systems in modern warfare has become a focal point of debate. 

Ukraine's use of donated long-range munitions, including the US-provided M39 ATACMS, the UK’s STORM SHADOW, and France’s SCALP-EG, has drawn the attention of military analysts, sparking debates about their effectiveness and efficiency in strategic deployment.

According to the Italian defense publication RID, Ukrainian forces may have nearly depleted their supply of these high-value assets, with only a few remaining. Since October 2023, around 500 ATACMS rockets have been transferred from US stockpiles to Ukraine, primarily used to target areas within occupied Ukrainian territories.

The situation took a sharp turn last November when Kyiv was granted permission to extend the range of these rockets into Russian territory. By that time, the number of available missiles had fallen to around fifty, signaling a rapid depletion. 

The tactical use of these missiles has sparked controversy, with reports suggesting Ukraine may have deployed an excessive number, sometimes as many as six ATACMS for a single strike. There are also concerns that these advanced weapons were used on targets that could have been tackled with less expensive options, such as minor storage facilities. This raises questions about the effective use of limited resources in a conflict where each asset is critical. 

Likewise, the British STORM SHADOW and French SCALP-EG missiles, which share similar capabilities with the ATACMS, have faced similar scrutiny. Since the fall of 2024, Ukraine has used an estimated 14 of these missiles in operations.

The effectiveness of these weapons, much like the ATACMS, is being closely scrutinized, with questions raised about whether Ukraine is achieving its strategic goals with the precision and impact that these advanced systems are designed to provide.

This situation presents a complex dynamic in modern warfare, where not only the weapons themselves are critical, but also the strategies employed in their deployment. As Ukraine seeks to strike the right balance, military analysts worldwide are paying close attention, drawing lessons on modern warfare, resource allocation, and strategic deterrence.

In today's battlefield, the strategic use of long-range missile systems like the US ATACMS and the British/French Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG has become a central concern for military experts.

By Naila Huseynova