ATACMS would allow Ukraine to reach any target in Crimea – Air Force spokesperson

If the US provided Ukraine with the ATACMS long-range missile systems, the Ukrainian forces would be able to destroy Russian coastal missile systems and ships in the ports of occupied Crimea.

Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesperson of the Air Forces of Ukraine, in a 24/7 newscast on 24 July

Details: Ihnat added that Russia will continue to produce missiles and drones, so Ukraine must aim to destroy the armament of the Russians from afar, directly in the areas they are being launched from.

Quote: "Let’s say, Crimea. Any location in Crimea is already reachable for our defence forces; we only need means and instruments for destroying the Bastion coastal missile systems, ships of Russia's Black Sea Fleet – this is what is constantly attacking us.

It is important to shoot down missiles, of course, but it would be much more effective to destroy the missile carrier, the source. For this we need long-range weapons, the ATACMS high-precision operative-tactical complex, [and] the F-16 fighter jets – it will be quite another piece of cake."

Details: Ihnat remarked that the Ukrainian tactical missile system Sapsan (also known as Hrim-2), which could reach targets from a 300-500 km distance, is not being manufactured now; this project has not been implemented despite numerous presentations. If Ukraine had enough of such systems in service, it could significantly help the defence forces.

Ihnat remarked that the ATACMS system is able to destroy mainly land targets. If Ukraine did receive ATACMS from the US, the Defence Forces would be able to destroy Russian coastal missile systems, as it has access to the intelligence data about their location.

Not all ships of Russia's Black Sea Fleet are at sea, some of them are docked in the ports, which makes them "reachable targets" as well.

Background: The White House is not ready to supply Ukraine neither with the ATACMS systems, nor with the F-16 fighter jets so far.

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