Ukraine has “passed test” on new U.S. guided rockets, needs more - Reznikov

11.07.2022 07:15

Ukrinform

Ukraine’s defense minister said his country has “passed the test” with its successful use of recently delivered American long-range artillery systems, but stressed the high attrition rate along its extensive front line has made the demand for additional supplies, such as armored vehicles and drones, more urgent.

That’s according to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, who spoke with The Wall Street Journal.

Oleksii Reznikov said the need for longer-range weapons continues to outpace the Ukrainians’ demand for shorter-range systems as the war shifts primarily to an artillery battle, and more will be needed if they are to recapture territory lost since Russia invaded on Feb. 24.

“We need to refresh our platoons and change them and make replacements also because we also have a lot of losses,” he said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal. “We are waiting for more armor, more weaponry from our partners. We need to rebuild some directions and to refresh our fortifications and plan a new operational strategy.”

He said the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, the long-range launchers known as Himars, have been a “game-changer,” enabling Ukraine to target Russian forces in the northeastern town of Izyum, but added: “The war is grim... We need more. We need it quickly.”

The minister noted that the Ukrainian military had to persuade the nation’s western partners that it can use the new weapons effectively. The successful strikes on the Russian warships and command and control posts have shown that the Army has passed the test, the defense chief stressed.

“The Russians are using their MLRS’s, which can go 120 kilometers,” said Mr. Reznikov, referring to Russian-made multiple-launch rocket systems. “So we need to have something a little bit longer: 150 [kilometers]. We’ll get there.”

He also said drones, including those sent by the U.S. and other partners, are consistently being jammed by Russia and don’t have the counter-jamming software needed to gain the upper hand.

Mr. Reznikov described the battle in Kharkiv as a problem for Ukraine, saying its location along the border has enabled Russian forces to fire long-range systems on the region from Russian soil, often at the expense of civilian and residential areas.

“Our antimissile systems can fight with their ballistic and cruise missiles – it’s not 100% but we can get them. But we cannot close the sky against their MLRS’s.”

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine had thanked the U.S. for its decision to send another four HIMARS launchers to help the nation defend itself against the Russian onslaught.