Ukraine has launched six US-supplied ATACMS missiles at targets within Russia, prompting a warning from Moscow that it will retaliate with its new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile. This escalation comes amid ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Russia, with Ukraine seeking to counter Russian aggression and Russia vowing to defend its territory.
“On the morning of December 11, 2024, the Kyiv regime launched a missile strike with Western precision weapons at the Taganrog military airfield in the Rostov region. During an investigation, it was reliably established that six US-made ATACMS ballistic missiles were used,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
According to a ministry statement, two of the missiles were shot down, while the remaining four were affected by electronic warfare measures and deviated off course. The attack caused minimal damage to the airfield, with two administrative buildings and a number of cars injured by shrapnel.
“Two missiles were shot down by the combat crew of the Pantsir missile defense system, the rest were repelled by electronic warfare means,” the minister’sminister’s statement said
On the damages caused, the minister said: “Missile fragments caused injuries among personnel. There was no destruction, but two buildings in the airfield’sairfield’s technical area and three military vehicles sustained minor shrapnel damage. Civilian vehicles in a nearby parking lot were also damaged.”
It added that the attack ” will not go unanswered, and appropriate measures will be taken.” without providing further details.
Earlier on Wednesday, acting Rostov Region Governor Yury Slyusar said an unspecified ” industrial site” was targeted by the barrage, with around 15 cars being burned out in a parking lot, but no injuries have been reported.
The Wednesday attack is not the first time Ukraine has struck Russia with S-supplied ATACMS missiles; on November 23, Ukraine launched five ATACMS missiles at a Russian S-400 air defence system in the Kursk region, and on November 25, Ukraine struck the Kursk-Vostochny airfield (Khalino settlement) with eight ATACMS operational-tactical missiles.
Following US authorization for Ukraine to use American-supplied long-range missiles, including ATACMS, to strike targets in internationally recognized Russian territory in November, Russia responded by using its new Oreshnik hypersonic ballistic missile system for the first time, striking the Yuzhmash military plant in the Ukrainian city of Dnepr on November 21. At the time, Putin stated that the new weapon could be used in retaliation against the “Kyiv regime” if Ukrainian attacks on Russia with Western-supplied long-range missiles continue, with potential targets including Ukrainian ” decision-making centres,” as well as military and industrial facilities.
On Wednesday, two US officials warned Russia may launch another experimental Oreshnik missile at Ukraine not to change the balance of the war but to intimidate Ukraine and its supporters.
Now, the World awaits how Russia will respond to the latest strike by Ukraine using US-supplied ATACMS missiles in the Rostov region.
