Ukraine Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov claimed Monday that US-supplied HIMARS rocket systems had destroyed 50 Russian ammunition depots since their deployment last month.
The US has sent 12 HIMARS or High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Ukraine, capable of striking with greater range and precision than any other Ukrainian artillery system.
The Lockheed Martin system fires six GPS-guided GMLRS munitions in quick succession over 80 kilometers (50 miles).
Significant Impact on Russian Forces
Reznikov underlined the system’s impact in the conflict, saying that the HIMARS strikes cut off the Russian logistical chain “and takes away their ability to conduct active fighting and cover our armed forces with heavy shelling,” Reuters quoted him as saying, adding that targets included bridges.
Reuters reported that the claims have not been independently verified.
#Ukraine: A Russian soldier inspecting the aftermath of one of Ukrainian HIMARS precision strike – not much left of the truck, but given the targets of previous strikes and some internals this is likely a command and staff/communications/electronic warfare vehicle. pic.twitter.com/KslkdwTU4q
— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) July 25, 2022
Additional Security Assistance
The minister also said that Ukraine has received three of the 15 promised German Gepard anti-aircraft armored fighting vehicles and expects dozens of Leopard tanks.
Our capabilities to protect our sky will be strengthened. Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems began to arrive in Ukraine. I would like to thank our German partners and personally #DefMin Christine Lambrecht for supporting our country. Looking forward to receiving IRIS-T pic.twitter.com/wew0lkX6hK
— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) July 25, 2022
Previously, Washington announced additional security assistance of $270 million for Ukraine, including four HIMARS, HIMARS ammunition, 36,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, and up to 580 Phoenix Ghost drones.
Meanwhile, Russia claimed that its forces had destroyed a HIMARS ammunition depot in the Khmelnytskyi region in western Ukraine after claiming that Russian troops had destroyed four HIMARS between July 5 and 20, without revealing further details.
