ATACMS strike on Russian forces in Luhansk region: Expert explains purpose
Photo: ATACMS (screenshot from video)
A video has surfaced online showing a purported ATACMS strike on Russian forces in the settlement of Rohove in the Luhansk region. The strike occurred approximately 78 kilometers from the frontline, according to Militarnyi, and the commentary of Oleksandr Musiienko, the head of the Center for Military-Legal Studies.
Strike on Russian troops
In the video captured by a reconnaissance drone, a large gathering of Russian military personnel is visible, followed by an attack on them with three missiles containing cluster warheads.
Seems like did another ATACMS strike near Kuban, Luhansk.
— JB Schneider (@JohnB_Schneider) May 1, 2024
Action starts at 03:50. A dud and 3 hits within a minute. pic.twitter.com/aGP4cWKY07
According to Militarnyi, the area of effect and the number of submunitions are significantly greater than in GMLRS, so it's probable that the strike was carried out by American-produced ATACMS ballistic missiles.
Purpose of the strike
"Such strikes in the Luhansk region are crucial. It's precisely in the territory of the Northeastern part of the Luhansk region that Russia has been training and coordinating its units, which were specifically preparing for escalation of hostilities in the Kharkiv region, where Russia plans to reinforce its advance," explained Musiienko.
The head of the Center for Military-Legal Studies clarified that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are targeting clusters of enemy strike groups.
"It's necessary to strike not only at Crimea, as the Russian troop formations in the East and in the Belgorod and Kursk regions are not dependent on the occupied Crimea. Therefore, strikes specifically in the Luhansk region are extremely important," he added.
Musiienko emphasized that the purpose of such strikes is to slow down the enemy's offensive actions.
"The goal is to slow down the enemy's offensive actions. Not allowing them to deploy into combat formations. While we await more advanced weaponry, it's crucial to use what we have, namely ATACMS, to strike the enemy in their rear and prevent them from advancing to the front line," he concluded.
RBC-Ukraine reported that the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces updated the enemy's losses in Ukraine as of today, May 1st.
