Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov attends a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as Russia’s attack continues in Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24, 2022. Photo taken April 24, 2022. Presidential Press Service of Ukraine / Brochure via REUTERS
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May 28 (Reuters) – Ukraine has begun receiving harpoon anti-aircraft missiles from Denmark and self-propelled shells from the United States, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Saturday, saying that the weapons will strengthen the forces fighting the invasion of Russia.
“Our country’s coastal defense will not only be reinforced with Harpoon missiles, but will be used by trained Ukrainian teams,” Reznikov wrote on his Facebook page.
He said the Harpoon surface-to-air missiles will be operated in conjunction with Ukrainian Neptune missiles in defense of the country’s coast, including the southern port of Odessa.
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After launching its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia imposed a naval blockade on Ukrainian ports, hampering vital grain exports.
It has also used its Black Sea fleet to launch missile attacks on Ukraine, which has since begun receiving Western military aid.
Reznikov said supplies of Harpoon missiles were the result of co-operation between several countries, and said deliveries from Denmark took place “with the participation of our British friends”.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Monday that Denmark would supply a harpoon and missile launcher to Ukraine. Read more
Reznikov said Ukraine had also received a number of heavy artillery pieces, including US-made modified M109 self-propelled shells that would allow the Ukrainian army to attack targets from longer distances.
Last month, a senior U.S. defense official said the U.S. military had begun training a small number of Ukrainian troops to use howitzer artillery, adding that training was underway. performing outside of Ukraine. Read more
Ukraine has said it wants to secure the delivery of long-range M270 multi-rocket launchers (MLRS) made in the United States and use them to repel Russian troops in the east of the country.
The Harpoon is an all-weather anti-ship missile above the horizon that uses active radar and flies just above the water to evade defenses. It can be launched from ships, submarines, planes or coastal batteries.
Russia says its forces are in a special operation to demilitarize Ukraine and rid it of radical anti-Russian nationalists. Ukraine and its allies say this as a false excuse to invade Ukraine on February 24.
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Report by Aleksandar Vasovic Edited by Helen Popper
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