Ukraine Could Target Over 1,600 Russian Military Sites with Tomahawk Missiles – ISW

The Kremlin is reportedly working to block the United States from providing Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles, fearing that such a transfer would expose hundreds of Russian military assets deep inside its territory to Ukrainian strikes.
The Gaze informs about this, referring to a new report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
ISW analysts note that while Ukraine has demonstrated the capability to strike Russian rear areas with domestically produced long-range drones, their payload capacity remains limited.
By contrast, U.S. Tomahawk cruise missiles, depending on the variant, can reach distances of 1,600 to 2,500 kilometers, enabling Kyiv to hit heavily fortified and high-value targets previously beyond reach.
“Ukraine’s ability to launch missile strikes deep into Russia’s rear with larger payloads would allow Ukraine to significantly damage – if not destroy – key military assets in Russia, such as the Shahed drone factory in Yelabuga, Republic of Tatarstan, or the Engels-2 Air Base in Saratov Oblast from which Russia sorties strategic bombers that fire air-launch cruise missiles at Ukraine,” ISW wrote.
According to the think-tank’s calculations, at least 1,655 Russian military facilities would be within range of the 1,600-kilometer Tomahawk variant, and roughly 1,945 sites would fall within the extended 2,500-kilometer range.
ISW assessed that access to Tomahawks would enable Ukraine to “severely degrade” Russia’s combat effectiveness by disrupting logistical and supply nodes that sustain its forces along the front line.
The report also highlighted that Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to use the prospect of unrelated diplomatic or economic incentives in an attempt to persuade Washington to withhold such weaponry from Kyiv.
In Washington, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance recently confirmed that the Trump administration is still discussing Ukraine’s request for Tomahawks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he has received “clear support” from President Trump regarding Ukrainian strikes on Russian energy and weapons production sites, adding that he asked for “one specific capability” designed to “increase pressure on Putin.”
As The Gaze reported earlier, according to Reuters, the Trump administration is unlikely to approve the transfer of Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, but Washington is weighing other options for long-range strike capabilities that could bolster Kyiv’s defenses.