For the first time, Ukraine’s armed forces have employed U.S.-supplied cluster munition rockets on the battlefield, targeting Russian troops. This significant escalation in Ukraine’s defense strategy has been documented in a viral video showing the purported attacks. The cluster munitions were fired from High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which have played a crucial role in Ukraine’s recent military actions against Russian aggression.
ATACMS are powerful enough to destroy entire S-400 batteries, helicopters, and fighter jets but not powerful enough to kill more than 4 out of +129 people, according to military expert with no job or education @squatsons 🤡
This comes from the same person who said the crew lived https://t.co/lnDXLZIdYU pic.twitter.com/L4HlMtqx1i
— Ukraine Battle Map (@ukraine_map) June 23, 2024
On June 22, Ukrainian forces launched two HIMARS missiles at military facilities in the Kursk region of Russia, reportedly striking near Mirnyi in Suzhansky district and Dovgi Bumi in Belovsky district. While Russian sources claim the missiles were intercepted, debris caused partial destruction to an FSB border guard building in Suzha. The use of HIMARS has enabled Ukraine to effectively target and disrupt Russian military operations up to 20 kilometers from the border, particularly in the Kharkiv Oblast, leading to the destruction of entire columns of Russian troops.
The introduction of cluster munitions has been part of broader U.S. military assistance, which includes an estimated 20 HIMARS systems. These systems have significantly enhanced Ukraine’s ability to counter Russian forces. Ukrainian brigades have reported successful strikes on Russian positions and air defense systems, altering the dynamics of the conflict. One notable strike occurred around 13 miles from the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region, as depicted in a viral video on the Ukraine Battle Map account.
The authorization from the United States to use such advanced weaponry has shifted the balance on the front lines, disrupting a planned Russian offensive involving over 90,000 troops.Â
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