Top U.S. Generals On-the-Ground Assess Ukraine Battlefield as ATACMS Missiles Prove Critical
KYIV, Ukraine – Key American generals are currently in Ukraine conducting battlefield assessments as the country utilizes both older and newer versions of the ATACMS missile system, supplied by the United States, in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The presence of these high-ranking U.S. military officials underscores the escalating importance of the war and the direct American interest in its outcome, while the deployment of ATACMS missiles marks a significant shift in Ukraine’s long-range strike capabilities.
Ukraine first employed ATACMS missiles a year ago, targeting sites in russia’s Bryansk region, prompting a strong reaction from the Kremlin. Russian officials labeled the move “the West’s entry into the war” and threatened retaliation, including the potential use of their newly developed Orešnik hypersonic missile. Vladimir Putin claimed the Orešnik travels at ten times the speed of sound and is “impossible to shoot down,” with an alleged experimental launch occurring on Dnipro last November 21.
The Ukrainian army now fields two ATACMS variants: the M39A1 Block, initially used by the U.S. in the 1991 Gulf War during the liberation of Kuwait, and the more modern M57, which began production twenty years ago. The missiles provide Ukraine with a crucial ability to strike deep behind enemy lines,targeting command centers,air defense systems,and logistical hubs.
