The Pentagon has quietly restricted Ukraine’s use of U.S.-made long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS)to strike targets inside Russia. This policy, in place since at least the spring, is a new high-level approval process within the Defense Department. This mechanism, which effectively gives Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth the final say on the use of these and other long-range weapons that rely on U.S. intelligence, limits Kyiv’s ability to employ them. This move is reportedly tied to the White House’s efforts to re-engage the Kremlin in peace talks.
A strange rumor spread through the Ukrainian missile unit’s combat command team: the long-range missiles were out of action. One morning, as a palpable panic spread among the soldiers, the commander entered the room, his movements calm and deliberate. “Hey, guys. You all look gloomy,” he said, a small, knowing smile on his face. “Okay, I’ll make you some coffee. Drink up.”
One soldier, his brow furrowed with concern, spoke up. “Commander, is it true that the missile system is out of action by default?”
“Yes,” the commander said, the sound of crunching coffee beans filling the silence. “But does that matter?”
“Aren’t you frustrated, Commander? We train so hard we’re bleeding,” another soldier asked, gesturing to the worn, blistered hands of his comrades.
The commander, ignoring the question for a moment, simply replied, “Bring me the launch manual.”
Someone brought over a worn, blackened manual, its pages softened and stained with repeated use. It had been translated from English to Ukrainian, but the commander pointed to a specific section at the end. “Is there anyone who can read English? Read the afterword.”
The afterword was in untranslated English, a stark contrast to the rest of the text. It began with a string of words praising American military power and emphasizing the legitimacy of providing weapons to other countries. But then came the bulleted notes on the precautions to take when operating the missile system. The soldier read the final point aloud: “If it is determined that the effectiveness of the operation cannot be guaranteed, at any stage, immediately halt the launch procedure and withdraw.”
The commander poured boiling water into the siphon, a fragrant mist rising from the brewing grounds. “Do you understand? That’s the true feelings of the engineers who built this missile system.”
The soldier who had read the text shook his head. “I don’t understand.”
“Listen, read between the lines,” the commander said, the aroma of coffee wafting through the air. “Don’t you understand that the engineers who built this missile system are screaming, ‘Don’t use such a terrible weapon!’”
“So, is what we’re doing a lie? A farce?” a timid voice from the back asked.
The commander lined up the coffee cups on the table. “It’s not a lie. You’re fighting a great power, Russia. A battle you can’t win. Why? Because we’re Ukrainians. Because we have an indomitable spirit. Right? 🇺🇦”
Coffee poured into the cups, a dark, rich liquid swirling in the white porcelain. “War isn’t fought with tools,” the commander stated, his voice firm and unwavering. “It’s fought with spirit. So as long as our indomitable spirit remains, it will act as a deterrent. Every bead of sweat we shed in training is a bullet.”
After a moment of silence, the first soldier, his panic replaced with a quiet resolve, said, “Commander, I’d like some coffee.”
The commander looked at the men, their faces now reflecting a new sense of purpose. He handed them each a cup, the steam curling around their hands like a warm embrace. The true fight, he knew, was not with the enemy’s missiles, but with their own resolve.
All names of people and organizations appearing in this story are pseudonyms
Pentagon restricts Ukraine’s use of US missiles against Russia, WSJ reports
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