Ukraine holds significant potential to strike Russian military targets within Russia’s territory if allowed to use American ATACMS missiles. This issue is becoming increasingly relevant as the U.S. restrictions on Ukraine’s use of these missiles persist, despite Russia’s ongoing reliance on rear bases and infrastructure within its territory to support its military operations in Ukraine.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), there are at least 250 military and paramilitary targets within Russia that could be struck by Ukrainian forces using ATACMS. However, the United States currently allows Ukraine to use these missiles only against a limited range of targets located on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories. This limitation means Ukraine can hit no more than 20 of the 250 potential targets.
Despite Russia’s relocation of its aircraft to airfields beyond the reach of Storm Shadow and ATACMS missiles, other critical military facilities, such as logistics hubs, ammunition depots, communication stations, and command centers, remain within striking distance. A large-scale relocation of Russian military resources from these facilities would create serious logistical challenges for Russia, significantly impacting its ability to sustain its front-line forces.
The ISW emphasizes that lifting Western restrictions on the use of ATACMS would enable Ukrainian forces to strike critical rear-echelon targets in Russia, forcing the Kremlin to reconsider its strategy and reallocate its military resources. This would also compel the Russian military leadership to spread its limited air defense and electronic warfare assets across a larger number of targets, significantly weakening Russia’s defensive capabilities on the front lines.
