A recent report from the Kyiv Post on May 11, 2024, indicates that Ukraine employed a US-manufactured MGM-140 Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) tactical ballistic missile to strike a Russian oil depot in Rovenky, situated in the occupied Luhansk region.

This attack, which took place late in the evening on May 10, seems to be a component of Ukraine’s ongoing effort against Russian oil facilities, a priority since 2023.

Social media videos and preliminary reports from the area suggest that the ATACMS missile used in the attack was equipped with cluster munitions, a choice of weapon particularly effective against sprawling targets such as oil depots.

These developments come after the United States supplied Ukraine with a limited number of ATACMS missiles earlier in 2024 as part of a larger military assistance package valued at around $300 million.

The ATACMS represents a significant upgrade to Ukraine’s tactical missile arsenal, being known for its precision, range of nearly 300 kilometers, and compatibility with existing Ukrainian MLRS and HIMARS launch systems.

The missile’s capability to deploy unitary or cluster munitions warheads makes it particularly useful for striking dispersed or broad-area objectives, thus ensuring a higher probability of target destruction.

Ukrainian forces have intensified their military efforts over the past year, launching a series of attacks on Russian oil facilities.

Strikes on oil refineries and depots, executed using drones and missiles, have disrupted Russia’s oil processing capabilities and led to operational shutdowns at several sites, collectively affecting approximately 11% of Russia’s total oil refinery capacity.

Despite earlier concerns from US officials about the potential impact of such strikes on global oil prices, Ukraine has persisted in this line of attack.

The recent events also follow an attack on May 7 in Luhansk and a subsequent early morning strike on May 10 in Russia’s Kaluga region.

These operations have included both missile and drone strikes on vital Russian infrastructure, with an emphasis on targeting oil processing and petrochemical production complexes critical to the Russian war effort.

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Relevant articles:
– Ukraine attacks Russian oil depot with US-made ATACMS ballistic missile , Army Recognition, 05/14/2024
– Watch: Ukraine Targets Annexed Luhansk Twice In Three Days With ATACMS Missile Strikes, The Times of India, 05/11/2024
– Ukraine Targets Two Russian Oil Refineries and a Metallurgical Plant, Sources Say, Kyiv Post, 05/12/2024
– Russia claims ATACMS strike on oil depot in temporary occupied Luhansk Oblast – Video, Yahoo Singapore News, 05/11/2024