Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Tuesday that it used U.S.-supplied Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles to hit military targets inside Russia, marking the first official acknowledgment of such strikes. 

Kyiv called the move a “significant development” in its defense campaign. Details of the strike were not disclosed. 

Kyiv received the systems in 2023 but was initially restricted to using them only on its own territory, nearly a fifth of which remains under Russian occupation. Those restrictions were lifted in late 2024 by then-President Joe Biden.

Ukraine said it will continue employing long-range weapons like ATACMS to further pressure Moscow toward negotiations. 

“Despite ongoing Russian offensive pressure, Ukrainians remain resilient, showing determination and consistent resolve in defending their homeland. The use of long-range strike capabilities, including systems like ATACMS, will continue,” the General Staff said. 

While this marks the first ATACMS strike officially confirmed by the General Staff, reports indicate that Ukraine initially used ATACMS on Russian territory on November 19, 2024, targeting a Russian arsenal in Karachev, a town in western Russia.

In recent months, Ukraine has requested U.S.-made Tomahawk missiles, which have a range of 2,500 km, saying they would help bring Russia to the negotiating table. 

Although U.S. President Donald Trump initially considered selling them to Kyiv, in November he said he was “not really” considering the move.