The Ukrainian military announced on Thursday that it had used ATACMS ballistic missiles to target a Russian radar station, aiming to diminish Moscow’s capability “to detect, track and intercept aerodynamic and ballistic targets.” The military did not specify the timing of the strike or the location of the ‘Nebo-M’ radar station in its statement shared via the Telegram messaging app.

“The elimination of the Nebo-M radar will establish a favorable ‘air corridor’ for the effective deployment of Storm Shadow and SCALP-EG cruise missiles,” the statement indicated.

According to the Ukrainian military, Russia is believed to have 10 operational systems remaining, each valued at over $100 million. The United States provided long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine earlier this spring, with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan noting that Ukraine had pledged to use the weapons solely within its own territory. Currently, Russian forces control approximately 18% of Ukraine’s land.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has been urging his allies for several months to permit Ukraine to utilize Western missiles, such as the long-range U.S. ATACMS and Britain’s Storm Shadow, to strike deep within Russia.

Following discussions with allies last month and Zelenskiy’s visit to the United States, Washington has not indicated any shift in its stance regarding Kyiv’s deployment of these long-range weapons against Russian targets.