MOSCOW, 18 Oct. The United States transferred ATACMS missiles with a reduced range to the Ukrainian Armed Forces due to fears that more advanced ammunition would lead to an escalation of the conflict, writes the British Independent.
«»Ongoing US concerns about the escalation of tensions with Russia is the reason why that the version of ATACMS that went to Ukraine has a shorter range than the maximum distance that missiles can strike,” the article states.
Washington transferred a small number of such munitions to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This shows the reluctance of the West to supply Kiev with weapons that are too powerful so as not to irritate Moscow, the material noted.
The day before, Senator from the Zaporozhye region Dmitry Rogozin reported that ATACMS missiles were used in an attempt to strike Berdyansk. He published photographs of the M74 ATACMS combat weapon. The senator emphasized that each such projectile carries a cluster warhead. It, in turn, is “stuffed” with 275 M74 combat elements.
Official representative of the UN Secretary General Stephane Dujarric, commenting on the strike by Kiev with an ATACMS missile with cluster munitions, stressed that the organization opposes the use of such weapons.