US to Supply up to 30 More HIMARS to Ukraine

On July 23, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress and the head of the Committee on Armed Services, Adam Smith, on their visit to Ukraine.

The president welcomed the visit a strong signal of support for Ukraine, its sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

“We appreciate the help of the U.S. in defending our territory, our land, and the Ukrainian people. I would like to thank President Biden and the U.S. Congress, with whom we have important bicameral and bipartisan relations” Zelensky said.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, stated that as a result of this meeting, the number of American M142 HIMARS multiple launch rocket systems and similar MLRS systems that the U.S. and allies intend to supply to Ukraine would increase to 25-30 units plus ammunition.

Throughflow of supply critical

Smooth logistics for delivering missiles for the HIMARS MLRS rocket systems is critical, added Yermak.

“The military will understand me well. Good logistics are vital to the stable and efficient operation of the MLRS in different sectors of the front,” he said.

According to estimates by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, at least 50 HIMARS units would be needed to grind Russia’s offensive to a halt, and 100 units would allow the Ukrainian military to conduct an effective counteroffensive.

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Putin said it had been deployed "in a non-nuclear hypersonic configuration" and said that the "test" had been successful and had hit its target.

The Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council confirmed that the Ukrainian military had thus far received nine HIMARS MLRS and similar missile systems to fight the Russian troops. According to media reports, the first HIMARS installations arrived in Ukraine towards the end of June.

The Ukrainian army has so far used these weapons for several successful precision attacks against Russian logistics targets in the occupied territories in Melitopol, Svatov, Izyum, Perevalsk, Stakhanov, Nova Kakhovka, and other areas.

HIMARS rocket systems have been essential in pushing Russian forces out of the strategically important Snake Island in the Black Sea, which was captured by Russia close to the start of the full-scale invasion.