Ukraine reportedly utilized U.S. ATACMS missiles to target Russian territory for the first time on Tuesday, marking a significant escalation on the 1,000th day of the conflict, according to Moscow.

Russia claimed that its military intercepted five out of six missiles aimed at a military site in the Bryansk region, although debris from one missile struck the facility without resulting in casualties or damage.

Ukraine asserted that it successfully hit a Russian arms depot located approximately 110 kilometers (70 miles) within Russian borders, leading to secondary explosions. However, the specific type of weaponry employed was not disclosed.

President Joe Biden recently authorized Ukraine to deploy the medium-range U.S. missiles for such operations, a move that Moscow has characterized as an escalation that could implicate Washington as a direct participant in the conflict and provoke retaliation.

This development coincides with plans for vigils commemorating 1,000 days of war, as exhausted troops remain at the front lines, Kyiv endures airstrikes, and concerns grow regarding the sustainability of Western support with Donald Trump returning to the White House.

Military analysts suggest that while U.S. missiles may assist Ukraine in defending a strategically captured area within Russia, they are unlikely to alter the trajectory of the 33-month-long war.

More significant shifts in U.S. policy are anticipated with Trump’s return to power in two months, as he has vowed to expedite an end to the conflict, though he has not detailed how this would be achieved.

In a speech to parliament, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy indicated that the “decisive moments” of the war are expected to unfold in the coming year.

At this point in the conflict, the outcome is being determined. It remains to be seen whether we will triumph over the adversary or if the adversary will overcome us Ukrainians and Europeans, along with all those globally who aspire to live freely and resist tyranny.

A candle-lit memorial is scheduled for later on Tuesday. Thousands of Ukrainian lives have been lost, over 6 million have become refugees in other countries, and the population has decreased by a quarter since Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin initiated the invasion by land, sea, and air, marking the onset of Europe’s largest conflict since World War Two.