Russia Confirms Two New ATACMS Long-Range Missile Strikes by Ukraine and Promises a Firm Response

On November 26, Moscow confirmed that Ukrainian forces had launched two recent strikes using ATACMS missiles, an American-made weapon that Russia views as a significant threat. These attacks targeted installations in the border region of Kursk, in the southwest of Russia. The first strike, on November 23, hit targets near the village of Lotarevka, located 37 kilometers northwest of the city of Kursk. The second strike, on November 25, targeted the Kursk-Vostochny airfield.

The Russian Ministry of Defense acknowledged that several missiles hit their intended targets, resulting in injuries to two Russian soldiers and damage to a radar system. However, according to Russia’s report, its air defense systems intercepted part of the projectiles: three of the five missiles during the November 23 attack and seven of the eight missiles during the November 25 strike.

“The attacks have been confirmed as being carried out using American-made ATACMS missiles,” the Ministry said, adding that Ukrainian forces had intensified their use of these long-range weapons.

This Ukrainian retaliation is part of a series of similar strikes, with the first one occurring on November 19, followed by another Storm Shadow missile strike, a British-made weapon, on November 21. In response, Russia launched an experimental hypersonic ballistic missile, “Orechnik,” at a military factory in Dnipro, central Ukraine.

In the wake of these new attacks, Moscow has vowed a “response” and confirmed that the Ministry of Defense is closely monitoring the situation. President Vladimir Putin, who has already warned that he does not rule out strikes against the West, emphasized the gravity of these Ukrainian attacks and indicated that Russia would act accordingly.