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In a statement released on Nov. 18, Ukraine’s General Staff said it successfully used ATACMS ballistic missiles to hit military targets inside Russia’s internationally recognized territory. It read, in part:
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine have successfully employed ATACMS tactical missile systems to carry out a precision strike against military targets on the territory of Russia. This is a significant development that underscores Ukraine’s unwavering commitment to its sovereignty.
Despite the ongoing pressure of Russian offensive actions, Ukrainians remain resilient, demonstrating determination and consistent resolve in defending their homeland.
The use of long-range strike capabilities, including systems such as ATACMS, will continue.”
As noted by The Kyiv Independent, this was “the first ATACMS strike confirmed by the [Ukrainian] General Staff.” However, authorization for Ukraine to use ATACMS against targets on Russian soil was first granted by Joe Biden’s administration in mid-November 2024. The first reported use of ATACMS on Russian territory likely occurred on Nov. 19, 2024 during an attack on Russia’s 67th GRAU arsenal near the town of Karachev in the Bryansk Region.
Following that authorization, Ukraine regularly carried out strikes with ATACMS and Storm Shadow cruise missiles on facilities in Russia’s Bryansk, Kursk, and Rostov regions. However, as The Wall Street Journal reported this past August, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth had been given the authority to block such strikes, which the Pentagon had been doing since sometime in the spring of 2025.
ATACMS is a family of U.S.-made short-range ballistic missiles. Depending on the variant, they can reach up to 300 kilometers (about 185 miles), and their warheads range from 227 to 560 kilograms (500 to 1,235 pounds). Ukraine fields both HIMARS launchers and tracked M270 MLRS launchers capable of firing the missiles.