Russia says destroyed 6 US-made HIMARS in Ukraine since war began
Russia says its military forces have destroyed six US-made High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) in Ukraine since the war began in the country five months ago.
Russian Defense Minister Shoigu said on Tuesday that in addition to the rocket launchers, Russia had also destroyed five anti-ship Harpoon missile launch systems and 33 M777 howitzers so far, Russia's Interfax news agency reported.
Since Russian President Vladimir Putin declared the military campaign in Ukraine on February 24, the US has been providing Kiev with military aid, including at least 16 HIMARS systems, four of which arrived on Monday.
HIMARS is long-range, mobile rocket system that can hit targets with precision. Its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, says the systems have a "recognized and proven range" of up to 300 kilometers.
Shoigu ordered Russian generals last month to prioritize destroying the long-range missiles and artillery weapons. The Russian Defense Ministry said at the time that the US-made weapons were being used to strike residential areas of the Russian-held Donbass and to intentionally set fire to wheat fields and grain storage silos.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced up to $550 million in arms and equipment for Ukraine on Monday, including ammunition for or HIMARS and 155mm artillery shells, officials said. The latest installment brings the President Joe Biden administration's cumulative military aid to Ukraine to about $8.7 billion.
Russia declares Ukraine's Azov regiment "terrorist" organization
In another development, Russia's Supreme Court on Tuesday designated a Ukrainian regiment as a "terrorist" group.
The court ruled to "recognize the Ukrainian paramilitary unit Azov as a terrorist organization," TASS news agency cited a judge as saying. The ruling, which takes immediate effect, allows for lengthy prison terms for the regiment's members.
Russian media have reportedly compared Azov members to World War Two-era Nazis.
Putin has said one of the goals of the invasion of Ukraine was to "de-Nazify" his country's eastern neighbor.
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