On the 1,000th day of the war, Ukraine used U.S.-supplied ATACMS missiles to strike Russian territory, marking a significant escalation in the conflict. The attack targeted a military facility in Russia’s Bryansk region and an arms depot about 110 km inside Russia. Ukraine’s military did not initially confirm the weapons used, but U.S. and Ukrainian officials later verified the deployment of ATACMS missiles, the longest-range missiles provided by Washington.
According to Russia, its air defenses intercepted five out of six missiles, with debris from one causing a fire that was quickly extinguished without casualties or significant damage. A U.S. official reported that two of eight missiles were intercepted, and the strike damaged an ammunition supply point, causing secondary explosions.
This development follows approval from U.S. President Joe Biden for Ukraine to use ATACMS missiles in attacks within Russian territory. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called the move an attempt by the West to escalate the conflict, suggesting it could lead to direct U.S. involvement in the war. Moscow warned that the use of such weapons might provoke retaliation.
As the war enters its 34th month, both sides have been intensifying attacks. Ukraine continues deploying drones to strike deep into Russian territory, while Moscow has resumed aerial assaults on Ukraine’s power infrastructure. The Kremlin has also adopted a new nuclear doctrine, lowering the threshold for using atomic weapons in response to perceived threats to its territorial integrity.
On the diplomatic front, Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador, Sergiy Kyslytsya, reiterated demands for Russia to withdraw from occupied territories. Meanwhile, Western nations, including the U.S. and Denmark, announced additional military aid packages worth over $200 million to bolster Ukraine’s defenses.
Domestically, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy emphasized the need for diplomatic resolution in 2024, while commemorations in Kyiv honored those lost in the conflict. The U.N. reported over 12,000 civilian deaths and more than 27,000 injuries during the war, alongside a significant refugee crisis with over six million Ukrainians displaced abroad.
As winter approaches, both sides aim to strengthen their positions, with no immediate sign of peace negotiations. The war has reshaped geopolitics, leaving its ultimate resolution uncertain.
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