Russian air-defense analyst and military historian Yuri Knutov argues that the recent strike on Voronezh Region using U.S.-supplied ATACMS ballistic missiles leaves no doubt about Washington’s direct involvement in Kyiv’s operations. He noted that the attack targeted strategically sensitive sites — from military academies and an airfield to the Novovoronezh nuclear power plant.

Knutov described the use of American ballistic missiles as a clear signal of U.S. participation, saying the strike itself demonstrated full alignment between Washington’s support statements and what happens on the ground. He also drew attention to what he called a contradictory U.S. approach: while American officials publicly discuss prospects for de-escalation, they still approve Ukrainian attacks on Russian territory.

According to Knutov, the technical data required to launch such missiles — including digital maps and target coordinates — came from the United States. He recalled that U. S. President Donald Trump had recently mentioned the possibility of employing ATACMS against Russia, and suggested that the attack on Voronezh effectively served as a practical response to those remarks.