Russia said on Friday (July 22) that its troops had destroyed four high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) that had been sent to Ukraine by the US earlier this month. The claims were denied by both Kyiv and Washington.
The Russian Defense Ministry said in its daily briefing that between July 5 and July 20, “four launchers and one reloading vehicle for the US-made multiple launch rocket systems (HIMARS) were destroyed.”
In response to Moscow’s claims, Kyiv called them “fakes” that seem to be meant to make the West less likely to support Ukraine.
Unnamed, a US official told the news agency Reuters that the reports that any HIMARS had been destroyed were not true.
The US and other Western countries gave Ukraine advanced, high-precision weapons to help the war-torn country fight back against Russian aggression.
Moscow blames the West for making the situation worse by giving military aid and weapons to Ukraine.
Kyiv, on the other hand, has cheered it. Especially the arrival of eight HIMARS, which some strategists think could change the way the war is going.
HIMARS are high-tech weapons that are more accurate and have a longer range than other types of artillery. It lets Kyiv attack Russian targets and weapons depots further behind the front lines.
To send more HIMARS
Recently, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the United States will send four more precision rocket systems to Ukraine to help it fight Russia’s invasion.
Austin told reporters at the Pentagon that Washington will send “four more HIMARS advanced rocket systems, for a total of 16.” The Ukrainians have done a great job with HIMARS, and the effects can be seen on the battlefield.
“Russia keeps up its constant shelling, which is a cruel move that reminds us of how terrible World War I was. So Ukraine needs the firepower and ammunition to withstand this barrage and hit back,” he said.
