Ukrainian forces struck a Russian army command post near Novopetrivka in the Donetsk region overnight on February 24, utilizing U.S.-supplied ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported. The targeted facility served as an auxiliary command post for Russia’s 5th Army.
The strikes represent a rare instance of Ukraine employing ATACMS missiles against Russian command structures, according to reports from The Kyiv Independent. Prior to this, their use had been limited. The General Staff stated the attack also hit Russian army depots in the temporarily occupied territories.
Euromaidan Press reported that the strikes targeted both command posts and supply lines, coinciding with the anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. The attacks are intended to disrupt Russian military logistics and command capabilities in the region, according to Ukrainian officials.
The Defence Blog reported that the ATACMS missiles were used to precisely target the command post, indicating a growing capability for Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian-held territory. UNITED24 Media confirmed the strikes against both command posts and depots.
The New Voice of Ukraine reported that the General Staff confirmed the successful strikes, but did not provide details on the extent of the damage or casualties. The use of ATACMS in this manner signals a potential shift in Ukraine’s tactical approach, leveraging longer-range precision weaponry to target key Russian assets.
