Ukraine Employs ATACMS in Strikes Against Russian Command Posts

Ukraine’s Defense Forces have recently utilized U.S.-supplied ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) ballistic missiles in a series of strikes targeting Russian military infrastructure in occupied territories. The strikes, which occurred on February 24, 2026, focused on command posts, ammunition depots, and logistics facilities, marking a significant development in Ukraine’s counteroffensive capabilities.

Targeted Strikes and Tactical Significance

The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that missile forces and artillery units successfully struck an auxiliary command post of Russia’s 5th Army near Novopetrivka in the Donetsk Oblast . Additional targets included a logistics warehouse of a Rubikon Center unit near Vasylivka in the Zaporizhzhya Oblast, as well as ammunition and logistics depots near Pryazovske and Oleksandrivka, also in the Zaporizhzhya Oblast . A repair base near Yakymivka was also reportedly hit.

Prior to these strikes, on February 23, Ukrainian forces targeted command facilities near Udachne and Pokrovsk in the Donetsk Oblast, specifically hitting command and observation posts and drone control points . An Uragan multiple-launch rocket system was struck near Liubymivka and a Buk-M1 surface-to-air missile system near Svobodne, both in the Zaporizhzhya and Donetsk Oblasts respectively .

First Confirmed ATACMS Use in Months

This recent operation marks the first confirmed use of ATACMS missiles by Ukrainian forces since November 18, when strikes targeted military facilities in Russia’s Voronezh region . The renewed deployment of these long-range precision missiles signals a shift in Ukraine’s strategy to disrupt Russian command-and-control networks and degrade operational coordination.

ATACMS Capabilities and Strategic Impact

ATACMS is a surface-to-surface ballistic missile designed for precision strikes at long ranges. Launched from HIMARS and MLRS platforms already in use by Ukrainian forces, it offers extended reach and a higher kinetic impact compared to guided rockets . This allows Ukraine to target high-value assets, such as command posts, air defense sites, and logistics hubs, deep behind enemy lines.

Ukrainian officials have emphasized that these strikes are aimed at disrupting planning cycles and battlefield awareness, thereby reducing pressure on Ukrainian defensive lines . Russian forces heavily rely on dispersed command nodes and UAV coordination points, making them vulnerable to attacks that can interrupt communications and reduce the effectiveness of drone-directed strikes.

Ongoing Assessment of Damage

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has stated that Russian army losses and the full extent of the damage resulting from these strikes are currently being assessed .