U.S. considers supplying ATACMS missiles with cluster bombs to Ukraine: Reuters

It is noted that such weapons could assist the Ukrainian Armed Forces in causing significant damage to Russian occupant forces deep within temporarily occupied territories.

According to three U.S. officials, observing the recent success of Ukrainian Defense Forces in using cluster munitions delivered by 155mm artillery shells, Washington is considering the possibility of supplying one or both of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) and the Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS), capable of striking targets up to 30 kilometers away with cluster munitions.

In the event of approval, any option would be available for rapid delivery to Ukraine, as stated in the publication.

Currently, the Ukrainian side possesses 155mm artillery capable of carrying up to 48 munitions. The contemplated ATACMS system would release approximately 300 or more bombs, and the GMLRS rocket system, a type already in the possession of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, could disperse up to 404 cluster munitions.

As two sources of the agency pointed out, since the Ukrainian counteroffensive showed signs of progress, the Biden administration aimed to bolster the Ukrainian army "at a vital moment."

However, American officials added that the decision to send ATACMS and/or GMLRS was not final and couldn't be made yet.

The issue of transferring ATACMS to Ukraine has been ongoing since 2022

Ukraine has requested long-range ATACMS rockets capable of targeting objectives up to 300 kilometers away. The Ukrainian military can use these rockets with the HIMARS missile system, previously received from the United States.

Recently, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, discussed the possible supply of ATACMS to Ukraine with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and mentioned that "the option remains open."

Financial Times recently reported that U.S. President Joe Biden was close to making a decision to supply long-range rockets to Ukraine.