Ukraine Uses US Long-Range Missiles to Attack Airports, President Putin: This is a Mistake

JAKARTA - President Vladimir Putin called the supply of long-range ATACMS missiles from the United States a mistake, after Ukraine successfully hit a Russian air base with these weapons, warning Washington was increasingly drawn into the conflict.

Speaking in China, President Putin called Uncle Sam's decision to supply the Army with Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), the use of which Kyiv confirmed on Tuesday, "only prolongs the suffering" for Ukraine.

"First, this of course causes losses and poses additional threats. Second, of course, we will be able to repel these attacks. War is war," said President Putin, as reported by Reuters, on October 19.

"But most importantly, they basically have no capacity to change the situation on the line of contact at all. This is another mistake by the United States," he stressed.

Ukraine is known to have repeatedly asked Washington for ATACMS, to support attacks on supply lines, air bases, and railway networks in Russian-occupied territory, which Kyiv forces were previously unable to reach.

"A mistake on a larger scale, which is not yet visible but remains very important, is that the United States is personally getting more and more involved in this conflict. And let no one say they have nothing to do with this conflict. We believe they do," explained President Putin.

The Kremlin leader added that it was good that Western countries were starting to talk about the need to resolve the Ukraine crisis peacefully, although he did not cite examples.

As previously reported, Ukrainian troops succeeded in causing serious damage to airfields in Luganks and Berdiansk, areas occupied by Russia, for the first time using long-range ATACMS missiles supplied by the United States.

"Today, special thanks to the United States. Our agreement with President Biden is being implemented. Very accurate. ATACMS has proven itself," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his video address.

President Zelensky's comments mark Ukraine's first confirmed use of ATACMS, which can fly up to 190 miles (310 km). The country's Defense Ministry promised that with X, there would be "further news to come."

"As you can see, now we can hit targets perfectly, with high precision, so that the enemy has no chance," Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ihnat told state television.

Kyiv has promised not to use the missile inside Russia, but believes it will change the course of the 20-month-old war.