Arsenal in Bryansk region struck by ATACMS missiles

19 November, 2024 The launch of an ATACMS missile. Source: Strategic Communications Department of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Ukraine struck an arsenal in the Russian city of Karachev, Bryansk region, with American ATACMS missiles.

RBC-Ukraine reported on this, citing a source in the Defense Forces. Russian Ministry of Defense also confirmed Ukraine's use of ATACMS tactical missiles on the territory of the aggressor state. This was the first use of these weapons after US President Joe Biden recently approved Ukraine's use of these missiles to strike Russian territory.

"Indeed, it was the first time ATACMS was used to strike at Russian territory. The strike was aimed at a facility in the Bryansk region, and it was successfully struck," the source confirmed. No official Ukrainian government or military leadership representative has commented on this information.

Earlier, reports and videos of a massive explosion and secondary detonation on the night of November 19 in the city of Karachev in the Bryansk region appeared on social media. Before the explosion, a missile alert was issued in the region.

A siren was sounding in the area. Later, the information about the attack on the Russian military facility was confirmed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

It stated that the Defense Forces had hit a logistics center for Russian troops near the city of Karachev, Bryansk region, at around 02:30 that night, without specifying what weapons were used.

ATACMS missile

In the afternoon, the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that on the night of November 19, the Armed Forces of Ukraine "struck a facility in the Bryansk region with six ATACMS ballistic missiles." Their air defense system allegedly shot down five missiles, and the sixth was damaged. According to the Russians, fragments of ATACMS tactical missiles "fell on the technical territory of the military facility," causing a fire that was later extinguished.

Satellite image of the 67th Arsenal.

Photo: Google Earth

In the immediate vicinity of the city of Karachev and 115 km from the Russian-Ukrainian border is the 67th Arsenal of the Main Directorate of Missile and Artillery (GRAU) of the Russian Defense Ministry.