Ukraine’s new US-supplied high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) have “significantly slowed” Russia’s advance into the country, according to a Ukrainian government minister.
“These systems allowed us to destroy about 30 command stations and ammunition depots, when we started using only eight HIMARS systems,” Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Tuesday.
“This has significantly slowed Russia’s advance and drastically decreased the intensity of artillery bombardment,” Reznikov said in a video address to the U.S. think tank, the Atlantic Council.
However, Ukrainian forces need more Western long-range precision artillery systems and rockets to slow down Russia and launch a counteroffensive, Reznikov added.
“We are grateful to our partners for HIMARS and … M270,” he said, referring to the M270 Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) that the UK has pledged to provide to Ukraine.
“To effectively contain the enemy, we need at least 50 such systems, given that our front line is nearly 2,500 kilometers (1,553 miles),” he added. “For an effective counter-offensive we would need at least 100, I think. That could become a change of game on the battlefield in this case.”
In recent weeks, Ukraine has been using HIMARS and other Western-made weapons to target Russian ammunition depots in Moscow-controlled territory. Rockets fired from HIMARS on Wednesday damaged a key bridge crossing the Dnieper River in the Kherson region, TASS reported.
Reznikov asked Ukraine’s allies to provide more of their equipment in the country.
“Ukraine is now essentially a testing ground,” he said. “Many weapons are now being tested in the field in the real conditions of the battle against the Russian army … We are interested in testing modern systems in the fight against the enemy, and we invite weapon manufacturers to test their new products here.
“I think for our partners in Poland, the United States, France or Germany, it is a good opportunity to test their teams. Or our Turkish partners, “he said.” Give us the tools, we’ll finish the job. “
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