Few days ago, Russia's defence ministry said its forces had destroyed
four U.S.-supplied high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) in Ukraine
earlier this month as reported by state-operated media outlet Zvezda
It stated in daily briefing, between July 5-20, "four launchers and one reloading
vehicle for the U.S.-made multiple launch rocket systems (HIMARS) were destroyed,"
A Russian MOD Telegram post said two of these were taken out
in Malotaranovka in the Donbas along with two ammunition depots for the weapon.
This claim has been rejected by both by Kyiv and Washington.
In this video Defense Updates analyzes how Russian assertion of destroying HIMARS
is exposed? Let's get started.
HIMARS or Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) is a light multiple
rocket launcher developed in the late 1990s for the
United States Army, mounted on a standard Army M1140 truck frame.
Over the years it has seen several upgrades to improve accuracy and reliability.
HIMARS has one universal pod that can accommodate 6 unguided/guided missiles
of 227 mm caliber or one MGM-140 ATACMS. With the extended range guided rocket GMLRS or
Guided MLRS which have been provided to Ukraine, HIMARS can reach a land target at a maximum range
of 46 miles or 75 km and have a reliability rating exceeding 98 % for a CEP of 10 m.
Ukraine stated that its forces had used it to destroy 50 Russian ammunition
depots since receiving the system last month. As per most accounts, they’ve thrown Russian
logistics into disarray and are slowing the Russian military’s advance in eastern Ukraine.
In comments on national television, Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov
underlined the growing impact that the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS)
are having as Ukraine tries to repel Russia's invasion.
Reznikov said, "This cuts their
(Russian) logistical chains and takes away their ability to conduct active fighting
and cover our armed forces with heavy shelling," The U.S Defense Department has previously stated
that the HIMARS systems are having a "significant impact on what's going on, on the front lines" in
Ukraine and 4 more will be provide in addition of the 12 that has already been supplied.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has ordered his forces to prioritize destroying
them clearly indicating that the system is making life difficult for Russian forces in Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military released a new video on Sunday,
stating that it shows the destruction of a battery of Russian S-300 air defenses in Southern Ukraine.
The video was first shared by the Ukrainian military's Operations Command South formation
on its official Facebook page. This is natural since S-300 is
a top of line air defense system and its destruction was a significant achievement.
Russia on the other hand has not provided any proper visual evidence of destroying HIMARS.
This is startling, to say the least since Russian forces would have persuaded getting
such a clip vehemently as a burning HIMARS wreckage would have been a major PR win
and a morale booster for its forces. If they destroyed a HIMARS, then they would’ve shown
it , especially since it has been taken up from the very top of the Russian power circle.
Russia's Wagner Telegram channel, has stated no HIMARS are destroyed
and video circulated to showcase a hit on HIMARS was in fact a timber truck.
It further added, and in general for future , if you see gluing frames, low quality shooting from
a UAV (we don't have other yet), where you can't see anything but pixels and something
is smoking , as a result of which you have to fantasize - consider it to be untrue.
If we really managed to detect the location of HIMARS, and then destroy it,
believe me, there would be plenty of personnel , ours would not have missed
turning these frames in the media for a couple of weeks in the daily news.
Gen. Mark Milley has said Russia hasn't destroyed
any of the HIMARS artillery the US has given to Ukraine.
Speaking at a Wednesday Pentagon press conference, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said:
"To date, those systems have not been eliminated by the Russians."
Milley acknowledged that the systems were at risk, adding:
"I knock on wood every time I say something like that."
His statement contradicted several claims by Russian officials and media outlets
that Russia has destroyed some of the prized weapons, which Ukraine lobbied hard to get.
HIMARS can cover a distance of 300 miles or 480 km on a single refueling and can travel
with a maximum speed of 85 km/h or 52 mph. This mobility allows it to be rapid deploy and
withdraw from a particular area making it hard for the enemy to neutralize it though not impossible.
The American side also stated that Ukraine has been using the HIMARS judiciously and effectively.
Russian claims have often been lies.
For example in regards to Russia Black Sea Fleet flagship, , the military department,
as reported by TASS said, "During the towing of the Moskva cruiser to the port of destination,
the ship lost its stability due to damage to the hull received during
the fire from the detonation of ammunition. In the conditions of stormy seas, the ship sank,"
Earlier, the ministry stated that the missile systems of the cruiser were undamaged,
the fire was contained by sailors, and that efforts were underway to tow the ship to port.
It was later discovered that the Ship was sunk by due to hits from two Neptune Anti Ship missile.
Given the precedence, it is much easier to believe the American and Ukrainian side than
the Russia.