Explosions in Bryansk: Are Ukrainian ATACMS the culprits?
In the Bryansk Oblast, a series of powerful explosions have occurred, suggesting using potent weapons such as the MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles. This isn't the first time this weapon has been used in the Bryansk region. Here's what the Ukrainians might have been targeting and with what.
Russian Telegram channels are abuzz with information about strong explosions in the Bryansk Oblast. Moreover, initial recordings are emerging, indicating that the Ukrainians used something with significant destructive power. Considering the Ukrainian arsenal, these could be Storm Shadow cruise missiles or MGM-140 ATACMS missiles.
It's worth noting that the Bryansk Oblast was already targeted with ATACMS in November 2024. Some analysts, based on geolocated points from online recordings, suggest that the target might have been the nearby 120th GRAU arsenal.
Another possibility could be the chemical plants in Bryansk, named after the 50th anniversary of the USSR in the village of Selco, which are involved in producing rocket fuel. In any case, confirmation will have to wait until satellite images of the region or the targeted facilities are available.
MGM-140 ATACMS — Old technology from the USA, the nightmare of Russians
Ukraine is effectively using American MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles, which were developed in the 1990s. So far, Ukrainians have mainly used M39 missiles, characterized by a range of 160 kilometres and containing 950 M74 APAM bomblets. They have targeted systems like the S-300/400 batteries or training grounds, and targets in Bryansk Oblast are within their range.
There is also the possibility that Ukrainians have recently received M39A1 versions, which can cover a distance of up to 300 kilometres and are additionally equipped with satellite navigation as a supplement to inertial navigation. Alternatively, they could be models from the M48, M57, or M57E1 series, equipped with a heavy WAU-23/B warhead, weighing about 200 kilograms, making them better suited for destroying fortified structures.
A major advantage of ATACMS missiles is their ability to reach speeds of up to Mach 3, or 3,700 kilometres per hour. Such high speeds combined with the short distance mean that even the newest Russian anti-ballistic systems, like the S-400 Triumf, struggle to intercept them.
