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ATACMS strikes on Berdiansk and Luhansk bases
Summary
A look back at the day Ukraine said its tactical ballistic missiles hit Russian helicopters and a supply depot during the 2023 counteroffensive.
What did Ukraine say it achieved with its first reported use of ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles? On 17 October 2023, Ukraine launched the missiles at Russian bases in Berdiansk and Luhansk, according to reports at the time.
Kyiv said the strikes destroyed nine helicopters and a supply depot, and killed several Russian military personnel. The claims were Ukraine's own, as reported at the time.
Part of a wider offensive
The strikes came during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive. Ukraine had launched that offensive in early June 2023 against Russian forces occupying its territory, with the aim of breaching the front lines. Efforts were made in many directions, primarily in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.
By the end of the offensive, Ukraine had recaptured 14 villages in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, with a total pre-war population of around 5,000. That tally came later and was not known on 17 October 2023.
The reported targets on that day were two bases, one in Berdiansk and one in Luhansk, rather than positions on the main axes of the offensive.
