Shooting Sharply: Watch Russian Snipers Eliminate Enemy in Special Op Zone

©Sputnik / Anton Denisov

Snipers are elite troops that are quite effective at destroying targets - that's why they need to be extremely secretive since any force considers them to be target number one. How do Russian snipers shoot at Kiev militants and avoid being spotted?

Russian snipers play a crucial role in the special military operation. These elite troops look to take out high-profile targets, including enemy officers, machine gun operators, tank crews and artillerists.

Snipers operate in Maryinka, DPR, one of the main hotspots of the Ukrainian crisis. Since the enemy wants to neutralize them, the sharpshooters have a complex set of rules of combat conduct – move in dashes from shelter to shelter, work in pairs and always stay silent. If the enemy sees you – you are already dead.

Snipers dwell deep inside the buildings waiting for prey and use flash and sound suppressors to stay unseen and unheard. Sometimes, they have to wait for hours – that’s why they use chemical heaters to speed up their circulation.

Collapsed Iowa Building Used in US to Portray Drone Strike in Moscow

A US media outlet has rolled footage of a building collapse in the state of Iowa while doing a segment about a recent Ukrainian drone strike against the Russian capital.

The attack occurred earlier this week when several Ukrainian UAVs managed to penetrate Russia’s airspace and reach Moscow.

However, the segment about that attack that aired on Newsmax’s "The Record With Greta Van Susteren" featured footage of a partially-collapsed building in Davenport,

Moreover, the rest of the segment did feature actual footage of what appears to be the aftermath of the drone attack in question.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, a total of eight aircraft-type drones were employed by the Kiev regime in the attack: five of the drones were shot down by air defenses while the other three failed to reach their intended targets due to electronic warfare interference.

The attack caused no deaths or injuries and resulted in minor damage to several residential buildings on the city's outskirts

IN BRIEF: What is known about Kiev’s attack on city of Shebekino in Belgorod Region

Russian forces thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to break into the city of Shebekino in the Belgorod Region, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters Thursday.

According to the spokesman, Kiev lost over 60 servicemen and 6 vehicles; several civilians were injured as a result of Ukraine’s attack on Shebekino.

Here are the key facts about the incident.

Shelling and breach attempt

• Ukrainian forces shelled Shebekino with Grad multiple launch rocket systems several times Thursday night. According to Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov, the city was shelled at midnight, 3:40 a.m. and 5:15 a.m.



• Early in the morning, messages circulated on social media claiming that Ukrainian forces had allegedly infiltrated Russian territory near Shebekino, but these reports were debunked by the regional anti-crisis center.



• Later, the Defense Ministry reported that the Russian armed forces, together with border security forces, thwarted "a new attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terror attack against the civilian population of the city of Shebekino." According to the Ministry, the attack took place at about 3:00 a.m. by a force of up to two motorized companies with tanks.



• Russian forces repelled three Ukrainian attacks with rocket systems, artillery, army Aviation and heavy flamethrower systems, preventing the state border from being invaded, the Ministry said.



• Kiev’s losses included killed 30 servicemen, four armored vehicles, a Grad rocket launcher and a pickup truck.

Victims and damage

• On Thursday morning, Gladkov reported that eight people were injured as a result of Ukrainian shelling in Shebekino. Later, he reported another injured person.



• Two administrative buildings were damaged by the shelling, with one catching fire. Fires were reported in a residential house and a dormitory. The total number of damaged buildings was not reported.



• There is currently no electricity in Shebekino, the governor reported.



• A bus was also hit by Ukrainian shelling. Initially, reports on social media claimed that the bus was transporting evacuated residents, but later, it was found that the bus was empty.

Evacuation of residents

• On Thursday morning, Gladkov debunked reports about the mass emergency evacuation of residents in the Shebekinsky District, but stated the authorities were ready to house people leaving the city in temporary accommodation facilities.



• Later, the governor said that the authorities are moving forward with evacuating residents. He warned that evacuation amid shelling can be dangerous.



• A total of 6 temporary accommodation points for more than 3,000 residents of the Shebekinsky District were set up in Belgorod, city administration head Valentin Demidov said. About 1,000 people will be accommodated at the Belgorod Arena athletic complex, with approximately 300 people already there.



• A total of 200 people - children and accompanying adults - will be transported to recreational facilities in Penza, with 600 people to be transported to Kaluga and Yaroslavl.

Reaction of authorities

• Graduating students were excused from taking final exams. The matter of their admission to college is currently being decided, Gladkov said.



• Russian President Vladimir Putin receives reports about the situation in Shebekino, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.



• The Belgorod anti-crisis center warned that phone calls urging residents to leave the region are fake and aim to sow panic.

Previous attack

• This is Kiev’s second attempt to attack the Belgorod region in two weeks: on May 22, a sabotage group breached the Grayvoronovsky District. A counter-terrorist operation regime was declared in the region.



• According to available reports, one civilian was killed during the attack, and one elderly woman died during evacuation. In addition, 13 people were reported to have been injured.



• The Russian Defense Ministry reported that Ukrainian forces were defeated the next day, on May 23. According to the Ministry, Kiev lost over 70 militants and 9 vehicles.

US’ denial of support for Ukraine’s attacks in Russia ‘not worth a penny’ — ambassador

Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov
©Alexander Shcherbak/TASS

Washington is demonstrating indifference to Kiev’s crimes by allocating another package of military assistance to a sum of 300 million US dollars to it and its statements that it allegedly doesn’t support Ukrainian army’s attacks inside Russia "are not worth a penny," Russian Ambassador said on Wednesday, commenting on the US security assistance to Ukraine announced on May 31.

"We have noted the persistence of the administration in the escalation of the Ukrainian crisis. The authorities are again proudly talking about providing financial assistance and another batch of materiel to their crazed Kiev puppets. At the same time, they are inciting European satellites to fetter Russia's technological development with additional trade barriers," he was quoted as saying on the Russian embassy’s Telegram channel.

"And this is right after a series of terrorist attacks by US proteges in Moscow and the Moscow region. Instead of calling the [Ukrainian President Vladimir] Zelensky regime to account, Washington is demonstratively showing indifference to the crimes of Banderites. Public statements by the White House that they allegedly do not support the attacks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the very heart of our Motherland are not worth a penny," he stressed.

"The new US "security package", totaling $300 million, effectively fuels the rotten regime in Kiev," he noted. "Nothing stops the administration. Neither the crisis in the economy, nor the calls of the states of Latin America, Africa, and Asia for assistance in socio-economic development."

"Numerous questions remain unanswered about why Washington is unprepared to address acute migration issues on the southern borders of the United States. The problem of the miserable existence of migrants could be solved quite simply by redirecting at least part of the military aid that burns in the furnace of the conflict in Ukraine to noble goals," Antonov stated.

"However, the American authorities do not want to see the reality. It seems that they are zombified by the desire to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, by trying to wear down our economy. At the same time, they continue to encourage the reckless actions of their "clients", supplying them with ever more deadly weapons. It seems that the lessons that the Russian Armed Forces teach neo-Nazis in the special military operation zone are not enough for the patrons of Kiev."

Ukrainian drones attacked Moscow and the Moscow Region on Tuesday morning. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the attack involved eight drones, five of which were shot down and another three disabled by electronic warfare means. Two people in Moscow turned to medics for assistance. Neither required hospitalization. A number of buildings suffered minor damage.

Washington announced on Wednesday that it is providing Ukraine with a next package of military aid worth 300 million US dollars, which will include Stinger anti-aircraft systems, Avenger air defense systems, additional munitions for Patriot air defense systems and for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems).

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told a regular briefing on Tuesday that the American side does not support Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory with the use of US-made weapons. According to the press secretary, Washington publicly and privately communicates this to Kiev. Jean-Pierre also pointed out that the US is allegedly gathering information on the incident.

US National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby also said on Wednesday that the US doesn’t support attacks inside Russia.

Operational HQ in Russia's Belgorod Denies Info on Ukrainian Forces Allegedly Breaking Into Region

The operational headquarters of Russia's Belgorod region denied on Thursday media reports claiming that Ukrainian armed forces broke into the territory of the region.

"A number of telegram channels are spreading false information about the Ukrainian armed forces breaking into the Shebekinsky direction at night. The operational headquarters officially declares that this information is false and does not correspond to reality. The situation in the Shebekinsky district is difficult at the moment, shelling is underway, sounds of battle are heard. Russian armed forces are working, but there is no breakthrough of Ukraine's armed forces," the operational headquarters said in a statement.

©AFP 2023 / OLGA MALTSEVA

Shebekino is a town in Russian Belgorod Region located 30 kilometers southeast of Belgorod. Shebekino's population is roughly 40,000.

According to regional authorities, eight people were injured in the Ukrainian shelling of the town overnight. Almost 20 buildings are damaged. The were no fatalities.

“There was and is no enemy on the territory of Russia's Belgorod region, but there is constant bombardment”, the governor of the region said.

The Russian Armed Forces, border guards, Federal Security Service, and National Guard are on the spot, the governor added.

"The lives of civilians, the population is under threat. First of all, in Shebekino and in the surrounding villages. The administration of districts and cities is now engaged in the evacuation of people. Of course, this cannot be done under fire. We need to wait for the end of shelling, the end of the explosions, the end of the risks of being injured or killed by the shells of the Armed Forces of Ukraine."

Russian lower house to discuss denunciation of agreement with Ukraine on Sea of Azov

Russia’s State Duma, or lower house of parliament, on Thursday will discuss the denunciation of the agreement with Ukraine on cooperation in the use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait.

The relevant bill was submitted to the State Duma by Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 24.

The agreement was signed in Kerch on December 2003. It noted the importance of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait for the economic development of the two countries. It was denunciated by Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada (parliament) in February.

According to the explanatory note to the bill, "a cardinally new situation around the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait emerged" after the accession of new regions to Russia, with the coasts of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait now belonging solely to Russia.

Pertamax Jabodetabek Turun Jadi 12.400 Perliter

Foto: Pengendara mengisi BBM di Salah satu SPBU, Kuningan, Jakarta, Minggu, 10/02. (CNBC Indonesia/Muhammad Sabki)

PT Pertamina resmi menurunkan sejumlah harga bahan bakar minyak (BBM) non-subsidi pada hari Kamis, 01 Juni 2023. Secara umum semua produk non-subsidi Pertamina mengalami penurunan harga.

Pertamina kembali melakukan penyesuaian harga (BBM) non-subsidi, antara lain, harga BBM Pertamax (RON 92), Pertamax Turbo (RON 98), Dexlite (CN 51), dan Pertamina Dex (CN 53).

Mengutip informasi situs MyPertamina, hari Kamis,01/06/2023,harga BBM Pertamax di Jabodetabek yang sebelumnya dibanderol Rp 13.300 per liter turun Rp 900 menjadi Rp 12.400 per liter.

Untuk harga Pertamax (RON 92) telah turun menjadi Rp 12.400 per liter dari sebelumnya Rp 13.300. Sedangkan Pertamax Turbo (RON 98) kini berada di Rp 13.600 per liter dari yang sebelumnya Rp 15.000.

Kemudian untuk produk BBM jenis Dexlite (CN 51), kini Rp 12.650 per liter, dari sebelumnya Rp 13.700. Sedangkan harga Pertamina Dex (CN 53) menjadi Rp 13.250 per liter dari sebelumnya Rp 14.600.

Meski begitu harga baru ini berlaku untuk wilayah Jabodetabek (Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang, dan Bekasi). Sementara itu harga diluar wilayah tersebut masih mengalami penyesuaian.

Misalkan saja untuk wilayah Prov. Jawa Barat (Jabar) dan Banten, harga Pertaline saat ini berada di Rp 12.500 per liter sedangkan Pertamax Turbo Rp 13.600 per liter.

Harga yang sama juga berlaku untuk Kab. Kepulauan Seribu, Prov. Jawa Tengah (Jateng), Jawa Timur (Jatim), Bali, NTB, dan NTT. Sedangkan untuk provinsi lain harga BBM Pertamina masih sedikit lebih tinggi, kecuali Batam.

Sebagai informasi, Direktur Utama Pertamina Patra Niaga, Alfian Nasution menjelaskan harga BBM non subsidi bersifat fluktuatif, sehingga dievaluasi secara berkala mengikuti tren dan mekanisme pasar. Pertamina melakukan penyesuaian harga mengikuti tren harga minyak dunia dan harga rata-rata publikasi minyak.

"Harga BBM Pertamina mempertimbangkan berbagai aspek diantaranya minyak mentah, publikasi MOPS dan Kurs, agar tetap dapat menjamin keberlangsungan penyediaan dan penyaluran BBM hingga ke seluruh pelosok Tanah Air. Harga baru tersebut mulai berlaku per 1 Juni dan telah memenuhi ketentuan batas atas yang ditetapkan untuk setiap jenis BBM," jelas Alfian.

Adapun ketentuan batas atas penetapan harga yang dimaksud sudah diatur dalam Kepmen ESDM No. 245.K/MG.01/MEM.M/2022 sebagai perubahan atas Kepmen No.62/K/12/MEM/2020 tentang formulasi harga JBU atau BBM non subsidi.

Untuk informasi lebih lengkap, daftar harga BBM Pertamina di seluruh wilayah Indonesia, di bawah ini:

Pertamax (RON 92):

• Rp 11.900 (Free Trade Zone/FTZ Batam)



• Rp 12.400 per liter (Jabodetabek)



• Rp 12.500 per liter (Aceh, Banten, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, DI Yogyakarta, Jawa Timur, Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur, Kodya Batam)



• Rp 12.800 per liter (Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Barat, Jambi, Sumatera Selatan, Bangka-Belitung, Lampung, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Timur, Kalimantan Utara, Sulawesi Utara, Gorontalo, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Barat, Maluku, Maluku Utara, Papua, Papua Barat)



• Rp 13.100 per liter (Riau, Kepulauan Riau, Kodya Batam (FTZ), Bengkulu)

Pertamax Turbo (RON 98):

• Rp 12.900 per liter (FTZ Batam)



• Rp 13.600 per liter (Aceh, Jabodetabek, Banten, Jawa Barat, Jawa Tengah, DI Yogyakarta, Jawa Timur, Bali, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Nusa Tenggara Timur)



• Rp 13.900 per liter (Sumatera Utara, Sumatera Barat, Jambi, Sumatera Selatan, Bangka-Belitung, Lampung, Kalimantan Barat, Kalimantan Tengah, Kalimantan Selatan, Kalimantan Timur, Kalimantan Utara, Sulawesi Utara, Gorontalo, Sulawesi Tengah, Sulawesi Tenggara, Sulawesi Selatan, Sulawesi Barat, Papua, Papua Barat)



• Rp 14.200 per liter (Riau, Kepulauan Riau, Bengkulu).

Thailand Open 2023 - 8 Wakil Indonesia Lolos 16 Besar Main Hari Ini, Jam Tayang

Pasangan ganda putra Indonesia, Marcus Fernaldi Gideon/Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo, di sela-sela tes lapangan jelang Thailand Open 2023 di Stadion Hua Mark, Bangkok, Senin (29/5/2023). (PP PBSI)

Empat wakil Indonesia dari ganda putra berhasil lolos ke babak 16 besar Thailand Open 2023. Berikut jadwal delapan wakil Indonesia di babak 16 besar Toyota Gacoo Racing Thailand Open.

Ganda putra menjadi wakil Indonesia terbanyak ke babak 16 besar Toyota Thailand Open. Dua wakil dari sektor ganda putri, satu tunggal putra dan satu ganda campuran.

Bagas Maulana/ Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/, Sabar Karyaman Gutama/Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo/Marcus Fernaldi Gideon, dan Pramudya Kusumawardana/Yeremia Erich Yoche Yacob Rambitan berhasil melewati hadangan lawan di babak pertama.

Laga berat akan dilalui para pemain Indonesia, dengan tiga di antaranya harus melawan unggulan pertama.

Ganda campuran, Adnan Maulana/Nita Violina Marwah yang melewati babak kualifikasi akan melawan unggulan pertama asal Thailand, Dechapol Puavaranukroh/Sapsiree Taerattanachai.

Secara head to head kedua pasangan belum pernah bertemu. Namun, secara peringkat BWF kedua ganda ini terpaut cukup jauh. Dechapol/Sapsiree berada di posisi ke-2 dunia, sedangkan Adnan/Nita di peringkat ke-48.

Lalu, ganda putra, Muhammad Shohibul Fikri/Bagas Maulana melawan unggulan pertama dari India, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy/Chirag Shetty.

Rekor pertemuan memang menjadi berat bagi Fikri/Bagas untuk memenangkan pertandingan kali ini. Tiga pertemuan, Fikri/Bagas selalu kalah dari pasangan Rankireddy/Shetty.

Sektor ganda putri, Lanny Tria Mayasari/Ribka Sugiarto yang akan melawan unggulan ke-1 asal Jepang, Kim So Yeong/Kong Hee Yong.

Lanny/Ribka belum pernah bersua pasangan Kim/Kong. Namun, secara peringkat BWF terpaut jauh dengan Kim/Kong di posisi ke-7, dan Lanny/Ribka di peringkat ke-29.

Sementara itu, pasangan ganda putri Apriyani Rahayu/Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti akan ditantang wakil Jepang, Rin Iwanaga/Kie Nakanishi.

Tunggal putra Indonesia, Chico Aura Dwi Wardoyo juga harus melawan unggulan kedua tuan rumah, Kunlavut Vitidsarn.

The Minions akan ditantang unggulan kedelapan asal China, He Ji Ting/Zhou Hao Dong. Ini akan menjadi pertemuan pertama antara kedua pasangan.

Seluruh pertandingan babak 16 besar Thailand Open 2023 akan berlangsung di Indoor Stadium Huamark, Bangkok, mulai pukul 12.00 WIB.

Jam tayang Thailand Open 2023 berlangsung mulai pukul 12.00 WIB atau 14.00 WIT.

Hari ini, siaran langsung Thailand Open 2023 babak 16 besar dapat disaksikan melalui live streaming INews TV.

LIVE UPDATES - Russian Forces Wipe Out Last Ukrainian Combat Ship In Odessa

The Ship Yury Olefirenko
©Konstantin Sazonchik/TASS

Russia’s Aerospace Forces destroyed the last Ukrainian combat ship in the Odessa port in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant-General Igor Konashenkov reported on Wednesday.

"On May 29, the Ukrainian Navy’s last combat ship Yury Olefirenko was destroyed as a result of a strike by the Russian Aerospace Forces’ precision weapons against the anchorage of naval ships in the Odessa port," the spokesman said.

The Ukrainian Navy operated about 25 combat ships, including five patrol and six artillery boats before Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine.

In addition, the Ukrainian Navy’s combat assets included the Gola Pristan anti-saboteur boat and the Svatovo assault boat. Upon Kiev’s attempt to storm Snake Island in the Black Sea on May 9 last year, Russian forces sank three Ukrainian Centaur-class armored assault boats and each of them could have carried a marine infantry platoon.

The Ukrainian Navy also operated nine armored gunboats, one of which, the Akkerman, was abandoned by the crew in Berdyansk, according to information of the Rossiyskaya Gazeta daily. The Vinnitsa corvette and the Yury Olefirenko medium amphibious assault ship were sunk.

The Yuri Olefirenko warship is classified as a landing craft that were built in the 1960s and 1970s in Poland for the USSR Navy. The ship was commissioned in 1971.

In the meantime, the most fierce fighting is ongoing in the area of Avdeevka in the Donetsk direction, the Russian Defense Ministry said, adding that Ukraine lost over 200 soldiers here over the past day. According to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, in May alone, Ukrainian troops lost more than 16,000 servicemen, as well as over 20 planes and helicopters, 466 drones, four hundred tanks and other armored vehicles, 238 field artillery guns and mortars.

Akhmat Fighters Successfully Advance Near Maryinka - Russian MoD

Earlier, Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said that Chechen units had received orders to redeploy their forces, and their zone of responsibility had become the territory of the DPR - the Akhmat Special Forces and the Sever Akhmat Regiment were transferred to the Maryinka direction.

The assault troops of the 5th motorized infantry brigade and the fighters of the Akhmat Special Rapid Response Unit are advancing in the Maryinka direction, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"The 5th motorized infantry brigade and the Akhmat special-purpose troops are successfully advancing in the Maryinka tactical direction," the ministry said.

Russian Defense Ministry added that the fiercest battles during the special military operation over the past 24 hours have been taking place in the Donetsk direction, near Avdeevka.

Earlier, it was reported that the Akhmat special forces fighters had received orders to relocate and now the Donetsk people's republic is their area of responsibility. According to Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov, the units have the task of switching to active military operations and liberating a number of populated areas. The head of Chechnya said in his Telegram channel that the redeployment of Chechen units is supported by the Ministry of Defense.

Special operation, May 31. Main:

▪️Ukraine is going to go on the offensive this summer and can count on an early supply of additional weapons from the United States, the White House said;

▪️The United States does not encourage attacks on Russian territory, because they do not want the conflict in Ukraine to escalate into a "war against the West," the White House noted;

▪️Russian aviation on May 29 destroyed the last warship of Ukraine "Yury Olefirenko", the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday;

▪️Russian air defense systems intercepted one Storm Shadow cruise missile and 12 HIMARS MLRS shells, and also destroyed 11 Ukrainian drones, the Russian defense ministry said;

▪️Work to improve the effectiveness of the Russian air defense system will continue, Presidential Press Secretary Peskov said;

▪️The IAEA staff will continue to monitor whether weapons are located at the ZNPP, whether it is under fire or fire is being fired from it, said IAEA Director General Grossi;

▪️The Russian Federation does not plan to deploy military contingents and military equipment intended for offensive operations on the territory of the Zaporozhye NPP, Deputy Foreign Minister Grushko said;

▪️Only those forces are at the ZNPP that are necessary to protect it from attacks by Ukraine, as well as to eliminate their possible consequences, he added.

What are ATACMS Missiles and Why is US Threatening to Give Them to Kiev?

©Photo : Federation of American Scientists

President Joe Biden has confirmed the US is still mulling over whether to send MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) ballistic missiles to Ukraine. What are these weapons?
What are their characteristics?
And why has Russia warned that their delivery to Kiev might drag Washington into a direct confrontation with Moscow?

"That’s still in play" was Joe Biden's four-word answer to a reporter outside the White House on Monday after being asked whether the US plans to deliver ATACMS to Ukraine. He did not elaborate.

Made to be used by the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System road-mobile multiple rocket launchers which the US began to send to Ukraine last summer, and older M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (M270s) sent by Germany, Italy, Norway, and the UK, ATACMS have been touted by US media and politicians as one of the most fearsome conventional weapons in America’s arsenal.

What are ATACMS Used For, What is Their Range, How Fast Can They Fly, and How Accurate are They?

Created in the mid-1980s at the twilight of the Cold War and entering into service with the US Army in early 1991, just in time for a US-led war against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, ATACMS are a solid-fuel, surface-to-surface ballistic missile with an effective firing range of up to 300 km, and a maximum velocity during boost phase of up to Mach 3, or 1 km/second, making them difficult to intercept using older air defense systems.

ATACMS’ characteristics vary wildly depending on model, block number, and configuration. For example, while they can be armed with 500 pound (230 kg) penetrating high explosive blast fragmentation warheads, they can also be fitted with other explosives weighing anywhere from 160 and 560 kg, including anti-personnel and material cluster "bomblets."

There are also notable differences in the weapons’ guidance systems, with older variants relying on inertial guidance, while newer missiles include built-in GPS.

Where Have ATACMS Been Used Before and What Countries Have Them?

Along with the 1991 Gulf War, ATACMS were used extensively during the US-led wars in Afghanistan and Iraq in the 2000s.

Besides the US military, the missiles are operated by just a handful of US partners and clients, including NATO allies Greece, Turkiye, Poland, and Romania, as well as South Korea, Bahrain, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates. Australia, Taiwan, Lithuania, Estonia, and Morocco have either signed contracts on the purchase of the weapons, or submitted formal requests to do so.

How Much Do ATACMS Cost?

ATACMS are pricey. So pricey that the Netherlands decided to shop around for and find an alternative earlier this year. Finland made a similar move in 2014. The US Army – the ATACMS’ main user, decided to wind the program down in 2007, citing high costs, and penning a life extension contract with Lockheed Martin to upgrade the remaining stock of missiles. A specialized "cross-domain" ATACMS proposed in 2016 was also killed off in the fiscal 2021 defense spending bill, due to unspecified "technical problems."

ATACMS have an estimated cost of over one million dollars (the Pentagon provided an $820,000 per missile price tag in the late 1990s – which would be equivalent to over $1.5 million today, with no newer valuations made available since).

Over 3,700 ATACMS of various modifications were produced between the late 1980s and 2007, with about 600 expended by Washington in its wars over the past 30 years.

What is the Russian Equivalent of the ATACMS?

About half-a-dozen non-US missile systems have been compared to the ATACMS, including the OTR-21 Tochka, a Soviet-made tactical ballistic missile, the 9K720 Iskander, a Russian-made missile, the Fateh-313 – an Iranian-made tactical missile design, and the P-12 variant of China's B-611 missile. North Korea, India, Israel, and Ukraine have also tinkered with comparable systems, with varying degrees of success.

Iskanders boast superior range and payload characteristics to the ATACMS, but their launchers are only capable of firing their specially designed missiles, whereas ATACMS can be fired from HIMARS and MLRS launchers.

What System is Expected to Replace the ATACMS?

Lockheed Martin’s Precision Strike Missile is expected to succeed the ATACMS. In development since 2016, the missile is expected to have a longer maximum range (500 km or more), and be slim-lined to allow for two to be fitted per carrier. Why Would ATACMS Deployment in Ukraine Be a Major Escalation?

In light of Kiev’s propensity to use its Western-provided weapons to attack targets inside Russia – including civilian infrastructure in Donbass, Moscow has warned repeatedly that sending ATACMS to Ukraine would dramatically increase the danger of an escalation, and possibly even lead to direct military clashes between Russia and the US.

Earlier this year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov blasted lawmakers in Washington over their calls to ship ATACMS missiles to Ukraine for strikes against Crimea, calling such proposals "an element of psychological warfare," and warning that the West’s escalation of the proxy war could have unpredictable consequences.

In late 2022, US media reported that Pentagon officials had urged the White House not to send ATACMS to Ukraine, similarly citing their potential use "against targets inside Russian territory," and the danger that they could "potentially set off a wider war with Russia."