US has provided Ukraine with about 20 ATACMS missiles – NYT

The United States sent about 20 long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. 

New York Times reports, citing sources, that these are cluster munitions capable of dropping 950 bombs. Two officials said the number of missiles was "small."

They also said that the version of ATACMS missiles that Ukraine received has a limited range. Even so, it's enough to reach almost all of the major military bases used by Russia.

ATACMS for Ukraine

The US was "wary" of Ukraine's request to supply ATACMS to it due to concerns about limited stocks and the fact that the weapon could be used to strike Russian territory, leading to escalation. Still, the country was considering this step.

Pressure on Biden to transfer long-range weapons had been growing from both parties in the US Congress. On September 9, an anonymous high-ranking official from the presidential administration stated that a decision would be made soon.

On Tuesday, October 17, Ukrainian forces attacked helicopters and equipment of the Russian forces at airfields near the occupied Berdiansk and Luhansk. According to the Special Operations Forces, the attack destroyed nine Russian helicopters, an air defense system, an ammunition depot, and more.

Later, it was revealed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine hit Russian troops with ATACMS missiles, secretly received from the United States in limited quantities. 

Later, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the Ukrainian military had used American ATACMS missiles.

The White House also officially confirmed that Ukraine recently received long-range ATACMS missiles in a modification with a range of 165 kilometers.

The Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, shared a video of soldiers using the missiles.