Russia says it destroyed 4 HIMARS launchers, in claim denied by Ukraine

Russia's defense ministry claimed on Friday (22 July) that its forces destroyed four US-supplied high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS), in Ukraine earlier this month. This claim was denied by both Washington and Kyiv.

It stated that between July 5-20, "four launchers" and "one reloading vehicle (US-made multiple rocket systems (HIMARS), were destroyed."

Moscow's claims were rejected by Kyiv, who called them "fakes" to weaken the West's support of Ukraine.

An American official spoke on condition of anonymity to say that reports that HIMARS were being destroyed are false.

Reuters could not verify battlefield reporting.

Kyiv has hailed eight HIMARS arriving in Ukraine as a potential game changer for the course and outcome of the war, which is about to enter its sixth monthly.

Advanced weapons have a greater accuracy and a longer range than other artillery types, which allows Kyiv to hit Russian targets and weapon depots farther behind the frontlines.

Moscow accused the West for prolonging the conflict by supplying Kyiv more weapons. It said that the supply of longer-range weaponry justifies Russia's efforts to expand its control over Ukrainian territory beyond the eastern Donbas for its own security.

The Russian defense ministry released a video showing the alleged strike on 6 July, just days after HIMARS arrived in Ukraine.

Russia has denied Ukraine's claims, and Ukraine claimed that it was using US-supplied weapons to inflict "devastating hits" on Russian forces.

Serhiy Lechenko, a chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zeleskiy, stated on Friday that Ukraine continues to use HIMARS to "cause many losses to the aggressor"

He stated that Russia was trying to block weapons supply from the West and intimidate Ukraine’s allies using the imaginary power of Russia’s armed forces.

HIMARS was used by Kyiv to attack a bridge crossing the Dnipro River in Russian-controlled areas of the southern Kherson Region. The attacks caused huge damage to the asphalt, prompting officials from the Russian-appointed government to warn that it could be destroyed completely if they continue.

On Wednesday (20 July), the United States announced that it would send four additional HIMARS to Ukraine as part of its latest military support package.

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