Officials: US Secretly Shipped Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine

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The Facts

  • Earlier this month, Ukraine secretly received US-made, long-range missile systems that are capable of striking targets as far as 186 miles (300 km) away, American officials confirmed on Wednesday.

  • The weapons, known as the long-range Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, have already been used in at least two attacks, US officials said — including the bombing of a Russian airfield in Crimea last week.

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

Ukraine has long sought after long-range ATACMS. Meanwhile, White House and military planners have carefully considered the risks associated with providing the weapon and they've decided this is the right time. If used properly, it can knock out Russian troops and logistics further back from the frontlines and turn around Ukraine's fortunes in the war.

Associated Press

Pro-Russia narrative

Ukraine has already used more limited weapons to launch a series of terror attacks on Russian territory. Now that the US has provided Kyiv with long-range ATACMS, Russia can only expect these terror attacks to continue and escalate. Now, more Russian cities are in danger and Crimea is in range. Russia will have no choice but to respond, and it will have no impact on the mess that the US left Ukraine in.

TASS

Metaculus Prediction

Establishment split

CRITICAL

PRO

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