JUST IN: Biden Authorizes Ukraine to Begin Striking Russia, North Korean Troops with American Long-Range Missiles

Lockheed Martin

President Joe Biden authorized the Ukrainian military to begin using US-made long-range missiles to strike targets inside Russia on Sunday, The New York Times reported citing officials close to the decision.

Per the Times‘ sources, Ukrainian troops have been given the green light to use Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) against the country’s enemies in Kursk in western Russia. Targets potentially include troops Moscow recently brought in from North Korea. The paper reported:

The weapons are likely to be initially employed against Russian and North Korean troops in defense of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region of western Russia, the officials said.

Mr. Biden’s decision is a major change in U.S. policy. The choice has divided his advisers, and his shift comes two months before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office, having vowed to limit further support for Ukraine.

Allowing the Ukrainians to use the long-range missiles, known as the Army Tactical Missile Systems, or ATACMS, came in response to Russia’s surprise decision to bring North Korean troops into the fight, officials said.

The ATACMS have a range of about 190 miles and each carries a 500-pound “blast fragmentation warhead,” according to Lockheed Martin, which adds:

a long-range, guided missile that gives commanders the immediate firepower to shape the battlespace. Each ATACMS missile is packaged in a look-alike MLRS launch pod and fired from the MLRS family of launchers.

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The Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) is a conventional surface-to-surface artillery weapon system capable of striking targets well beyond the range of existing Army cannons, rockets and other missiles.

According to The Washington Post, there are an estimated 10,000 “elite” North Korean troops currently stationed in Kursk.