Ukraine’s Western Missiles Threaten Big Russian Assets: Airports, Ammo Depots and Command Headquarters

 

In Kyiv, Ukraine, a series of significant military strikes marked a turning point in the conflict. Early Tuesday, Ukraine fired six U.S.-supplied ballistic missiles into an ammunition depot approximately 75 miles inside Russian territory. The explosions triggered further detonations, lighting up the night sky in vivid red hues.

The following morning, 10 British-provided cruise missiles struck near a Kremlin-controlled sanatorium in Marino, a town in Russia’s Kursk region about 20 miles from the front lines. The facility reportedly used as a military headquarters, was hit repeatedly, showcasing the precision and power of these new weapons.

These strikes are Ukraine’s first use of Western-supplied long-range missiles following authorization from the U.S. and its allies. The deployment highlights Ukraine's expanded targeting range at a critical time as Russian offensives intensify along the 800-mile front line. By striking deeper into Russian territory, Kyiv aims to disrupt the flow of troops, supplies, and weaponry to the battlefield, potentially slowing Russia’s war efforts.

The effectiveness of this new capability will depend on how many missiles Ukraine receives and its strategic use of them. Ukraine had initially requested authorization for U.K.-supplied Storm Shadow and U.S.-made Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles earlier in the year, alongside existing permissions to use shorter-range artillery. 

Delays in granting this authorization allowed Moscow to relocate high-value assets like aircraft and helicopters out of immediate range, but analysts note this displacement itself hampered Russian logistics.

With these weapons now available, Ukraine has a broad array of potential targets, including airfields, ammunition depots, and training grounds. The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has identified approximately 200 military targets within range of ATACMS, which can strike up to 190 miles, and Storm Shadow missiles, effective at up to 155 miles. Analysts emphasize that targeting command headquarters or logistics hubs could severely disrupt Russian operations.

In Russia’s Rostov province, for instance, multiple military airfields within missile range serve as key hubs for troop deployment. A strike there could significantly impact Russian reinforcements headed for Ukraine’s eastern front. However, dual-use facilities, such as airports also serving civilian purposes, are less likely to be targeted.

It remains unclear whether Washington has imposed restrictions on Ukraine’s use of these weapons. Following the strikes, Russia launched a nuclear-capable intermediate-range ballistic missile at Dnipro, marking a historic escalation. In response, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky defended the use of long-range Western weapons as a lawful act of self-defense.

“Putin lies when he claims Ukraine’s use of these weapons is a new escalation,” Zelensky said. “We have utilized them before in our occupied territories.”

Ukraine has indeed employed these weapons to significant effect within occupied regions, including Crimea, where strikes on Russian supply ferries across the Kerch Strait and air defense systems have disrupted Russian logistics and defenses. These developments underscore the evolving dynamics of the conflict as both sides adapt their strategies.