Ukrainian forces carried out a strike targeting a Russian military command facility in occupied Donetsk region overnight on , utilizing U.S.-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, according to a statement from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The strike, which focused on an auxiliary command post of Russia’s 5th Army near Novopetrivka, marks the first confirmed use of ATACMS missiles by Ukrainian forces in a sustained period. The operation is part of a broader effort to disrupt Russian military infrastructure across occupied territory, the General Staff stated.
The renewed deployment of ATACMS comes as Ukraine continues to refine its strategy of targeting Russian command-and-control networks and logistical support systems. Precision strikes are intended to degrade the ability of Russian forces to coordinate operations in eastern Ukraine, focusing on headquarters, logistics hubs, and infrastructure supporting drone operations.
According to the General Staff, the overnight attack involved American-made ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles in conjunction with other strike capabilities. Ukrainian Defense Forces also targeted ammunition depots, unmanned aerial vehicle control points, and a command-and-observation post at three additional locations within the Donetsk region.
The Ukrainian military indicated that the targeted facilities were directly involved in Russian operational activity in the area. Details regarding damage assessments and potential casualties were not immediately released.
Auxiliary command posts, as described by the General Staff, function as backup coordination nodes, enabling units to maintain control even if primary headquarters are compromised or destroyed. This suggests a deliberate attempt to degrade Russia’s ability to respond effectively to Ukrainian military pressure.
Open-source intelligence sources reported that the previous confirmed employment of ATACMS missiles by Ukrainian forces occurred on , when strikes targeted military facilities in Russia’s Voronezh region. The attack therefore represents a resumption of this capability after a period of several months.
ATACMS, or Army Tactical Missile System, is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile designed for precision strikes at extended ranges. Launched from HIMARS and MLRS platforms already in Ukrainian service, the missile follows a ballistic trajectory, enabling engagement of high-value targets such as command posts, air defense systems, logistics depots, and airfields located deep within enemy territory.
Unlike guided rockets, ATACMS offers increased range and kinetic impact, allowing Ukrainian forces to strike targets beyond the reach of conventional artillery while minimizing the risk to frontline units. The system is typically employed against fixed or semi-fixed military infrastructure where precision and rapid response are critical.
The renewed use of ATACMS aligns with Ukraine’s broader campaign to target Russian operational depth, rather than solely focusing on frontline positions. Ukrainian officials have consistently emphasized strikes against command centers and drone coordination facilities as a means of alleviating pressure on Ukrainian defensive lines by disrupting planning cycles and battlefield situational awareness.
Russian forces are heavily reliant on dispersed command nodes and UAV coordination points to manage artillery fire and reconnaissance operations. Attacks against these facilities can temporarily disrupt communications and diminish the effectiveness of drone-directed strikes, which have become a central component of combat operations in eastern Ukraine.
The decision by the outgoing Biden administration in to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of ATACMS missiles against targets within Russia proper had been met with some criticism, notably from then-candidate Donald Trump. The initial delivery of the systems to Ukraine occurred in , but their use was initially limited to within Ukrainian territory, despite nearly a fifth of the country remaining under Russian occupation.
Ukraine has also requested US-made Tomahawk missiles, which possess a range of 2,500 km (1,550 miles), arguing that they could further pressure Russia into negotiations. While the possibility of providing Tomahawk missiles was briefly considered by then-President Trump, he indicated in that he was no longer actively pursuing the plan.
