**Ukraine Strikes Russian Air Base with ATACMS Missiles**
The Ukrainian military launched six ATACMS missiles at a strategic air base in the city of Taganrog, destroying an aircraft repair facility that supports critical A50 early warning planes.
This is Day 1026 of the war between Russia and Ukraine. On December 15, there were several updates from the Russian Federation. The Ukrainians received approval to use long-range supersonic attack ATACMS missiles. They successfully used them to hit targets deep in the Russian rear.
**First Wave of Strikes**
The first target of Ukraine’s strikes was a strategically important air base in Taganrog. Ukrainian forces employed six ATACMS missiles, inflicting significant damage on the aircraft repair plant located near the air base. This destruction will hinder Russia’s ability to maintain and repair critical strategic aircraft.
**Second Target: Ammunition Depot**
The second target was the town of Markine, where Ukrainian attack strikes destroyed a large ammunition depot. The resulting explosion was visible for kilometers and audible even further away.
**Third Strike: Train Depot**
Several days before that, Ukrainians also targeted a train depot in the Bryansk region, destroying two locomotives critical for Russian supply operations.
**Impact on Russian War Effort**
The success of Ukraine’s recent ATACMS strikes lies in the missile’s immense destructive power. The ATACMS carry a warhead with over 500 kg of explosive material, making it far more destructive than most other missiles. This capability allows Ukraine to severely damage critical Russian infrastructure that directly impacts the war effort.
**Palen Drones Used to Complement Strikes**
The Ukrainians also utilized Palen drones to complement the ATACMS strikes to maximize the effectiveness of these strikes on Russian critical infrastructure. Drones were deployed ahead of the missiles to probe and exhaust Russian air defenses by forcing them to expand ammunition.
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