A few days after carrying out the first attack with ATACMS ballistic missiles against Russian territory, the Armed Forces of Ukraine once again used this type of weaponry provided by the United States against military installations of the Russian Aerospace Forces located in the Kursk oblast. The attack, recorded yesterday, November 25, targeted the Khalino airfield, used as one of the main support points for the VKS attack aviation deployed in combat operations in the region. This occurred despite warnings from the Kremlin days ago following the launch of a new experimental ballistic missile.
The green light given to Ukraine by the United States, and later by the United Kingdom and France, for the use of long-range weaponry such as Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles and short-range ballistic missiles, is causing a new escalation in the armed conflict. Last week, after the first ATACMS missile attack on Russian territory was confirmed, Russia responded with an attack carried out with the new Oreshnik experimental ballistic missile against the city of Dnipro.
Regarding the most recent ATACMS missile attack, it targeted the Khalino airfield. Located within Russian territory, 70 miles from the Ukraine-Russia border, it is one of the advanced facilities of the Russian Aerospace Forces dedicated to supporting military operations in the oblast, a region witnessing intense fighting where Russian troops are seeking to reclaim territory controlled by Ukrainian forces.
According to various Russian channels, the attack was reportedly carried out with a total of seven ATACMS ballistic missiles, complemented by the deployment of twelve unmanned aerial vehicles. While details may vary, the air defenses deployed at the airfield are said to have intercepted up to six missiles, while the remaining one hit with various types of submunitions, though the damages caused have not yet been specified.
Other sources indicate that the activity of the unit based in Khalino, focused on attack missions and close air support with Su-25 aircraft and drones, has been limited in the last 24 hours. Furthermore, several sources report that aircraft have been relocated to other air bases to move out of ATACMS missile range.
This is the third recorded attack using Western long-range weaponry by the Ukrainian Armed Forces against military targets within Russian territory. The attack can be understood in the current context of the Kursk oblast, where, in recent weeks, Russian Ground Forces have regained territory that until recently was under Ukrainian control. The use of ballistic and cruise missiles targeting objectives such as ammunition depots in the Bryansk region, and now the Khalino airfield, aims to slow the Russian advance by limiting its logistics and air support.
Finally, with the confirmation of this new short-range ballistic missile attack, a response from the Kremlin is to be expected. After the first attack on Bryansk, the retaliation was the launch of a new ballistic missile against the Ukrainian city of Dnipro. It cannot be ruled out that a similar action is being evaluated by the Russian Armed Forces to be carried out soon against targets in Ukraine.
Cover photo used for illustrative purposes.
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