For the first time, Ukraine, armed with high-precision missiles made in the United States, can attack any corner of Crimea.
This is reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to The New York Times.
American journalists note that Russia initially used the occupied Crimea as a springboard for its full-scale invasion, and later as a springboard for planned air bombardments. Now, however, missiles are increasingly flying in both directions.
Ukraine intends to destroy the critical base of the Russians that allows them to wage war. Potential targets of the Ukrainian Armed Forces will be airfields, air defense facilities, and logistics centers of the Russian occupiers.
A senior U.S. official said that Ukraine is "very efficiently" using long-range missiles supplied by the United States.
The official also said, on condition of anonymity, that Ukraine has enough ATACMS missiles to continue striking Russian military targets in Crimea. According to him, the ammunition is being replenished on a regular basis and we are talking about hundreds, not dozens.
Referring to British intelligence, the NYT writes that the Ukrainian Armed Forces' strikes on Crimea may force Moscow to move some military aircraft from the peninsula or to leave them there, but risk losing new aircraft.
At the same time, the newspaper notes that Ukraine's strikes with ATACMS missiles are unlikely to affect the front line, but may affect where Russia deploys some of its most valuable air defense assets to protect critical infrastructure.
Author - Serhii Kolomiets, 14/07/2024