28 May 2024 – Translated from Ukrainian via Google and OFP
The Ukrainian Armed Forces colonel noted that it is critically necessary for Ukraine to have permission from Western countries to launch strikes with their weapons on Russian territory.
In the West, talk has intensified about the need to provide Ukraine with more weapons that can hit targets at a considerable distance. In addition, the US Congress called on the Biden administration to lift restrictions on the use of American weapons for strikes against Russia. The likelihood of making a positive decision for Ukraine was commented on by Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and military expert Petr Chernik in an interview with Glavred.
Chernik recalls that a similar situation with Western countries’ hesitation in providing Ukraine with certain types of weapons has been going on for a long time.
“In June 2022, when I was in the combat zone in the Donetsk region, US President Joseph Biden stated that he would not provide Ukraine with F-16 fighters, because this would mean crossing “red lines” and further escalation. But time has passed, and Biden decided to take this step – and we will have F-16s. There is hope that by early to mid-summer the fighters will be operating in Ukraine. If this happens, it will be a tremendous success for us,” Chernik said.
He adds that the situation is similar with long-range missiles. Of course, we are interested in ATACMS with a range of 300 km, but the Ukrainian Armed Forces colonel notes that it is worth paying attention to the missiles that are used on the F-16, in particular the incredible AGM-158 JASSM.
“There are configurations that allow you to strike enemy targets at a distance of up to 900 km,” the expert noted.
According to him, a strike by 5 ATACMS missiles on Russian targets in the Donetsk region, in particular in occupied Mospino, led to the destruction of at least three S-300/400 launchers, a radar and a combat control vehicle. This incident indicates serious problems for the enemy with anti-aircraft missile cover.
“And the AGM-158 JASSM missile with a range of up to 900 km can easily fly to the airfield in Engels, where the strategic attack missile carriers are based: T-95MS, Tu-160 and Tu-22M3. The ability to strike with such missiles can radically change everything,” he notes.
However, he notes that another example of Western reaction should be kept in mind. Almost a month and a half ago, the information space was filled with messages with militaristic rhetoric from Macron about the possibility of sending French troops into Ukraine, but this did not happen, and the topic disappeared from the information agenda.
“It’s difficult to say exactly what decisions will be made in the West. But we critically need the Western world to allow the use of its long-range weapons on the territory of the Russian Federation,” he concluded.
Who is Peter Chernik
Military expert, colonel, former head of the department of foreign languages and military translation of the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sagaidachny.
Attacks on Russia by Western weapons – attack by ATACMS missiles
Let us recall, as Glavred previously reported, on May 22, the Ukrainian military struck the positions of the Russian invaders at the Mospino airfield in the Donetsk region. The attack led to the destruction of the latest Russian S-400 air defense systems and damage to other equipment. These strikes show that the Ukrainian Defense Forces need more ATACMS missiles until the enemy finds the means to counter these weapons, said Petro Andryushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni spoke out against the use of Western weapons to strike military targets on the territory of Russia, the aggressor country. Meloni believes NATO must act “very carefully.”
The supply of new weapons and ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine from Western countries has already yielded certain results at the front, the Estonian General Staff noted, pointing to the slowdown in the offensive of the Russian occupiers in the Kharkov region.
Yes, we have the means to reach out and destroy the mafia aircraft and missiles that have been terrorizing the Ukrainian population, slaughtering men, women, and children, day in and day out, destroying hospitals, schools, kindergartens, shopping centers, and homes, day in and day out. We could allow the destruction of ammo dumps, arms factories, and military sites of all kinds.
Yet, we don’t have the political will to stop this terrorism. We have soft, fluffy, marshmallows who live in safety cocoons, protected by a strong system of personal bodyguards/Secret Service, electronic gadgets, walls and fences, armored vehicles, air defense, military and police forces. Their children are safe and sound and everything is rosy.
Strong leaders could’ve ended this war over a year ago already. What we have are losers.