ANDØYA, Norway (May 31, 2021) The U.S. Marine Corps 24 Marine Expeditionary Unit (24 MEU) conducted its first High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launch in Europe, further integrating the Marines in a joint environment and capitalizing on its strategic lift capabilities. The vehicle-mounted precision rocket system was incorporated in At-Sea Demo/Formidable Shield as the Corps looks for ways to incorporate the detachment in the maritime and littoral environment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Nicholas Guevara)
The Ukrainians have begun to use Western donated weapons like HIMARS to hit Russian positions deeper within occupied territories. The Wall Street Journal’s Isabel Coles and Evan Gershkovich report:
Ukrainian forces struck an air-defense system in Russian-occupied territory in the east of the country late Tuesday, in the latest sign of how long-range artillery sent by the West is shifting the war’s calculus.
Russian state news agencies reported that Ukrainian forces had launched a strike on an air-defense system protecting the skies over Luhansk, the capital of one of two Russian-created statelets in Ukraine’s eastern Donbas area.
The strike is the latest in a series that Ukraine has conducted against high-value targets such as ammunition depots and command posts since multiple-launch rocket systems known as Himars began arriving from the U.S. last month.
“The occupiers have already felt very well what modern artillery is, and they will not have a safe rear anywhere on our land,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address overnight.
Footage posted on social media by residents of Luhansk late Tuesday showed a large explosion. Russian military correspondents said on social media that an ammunition dump in Luhansk’s industrial area had been hit.
“The armed forces of Ukraine launched a massive attack on the military air-defense unit, which ensures the security of the city of Luhansk,” said Andriy Marochko, a spokesman for the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic people’s militia.
The Luhansk People’s Republic later said nine missiles had been fired at Luhansk from American-made Himars.
If you’re willing to fight for Main Street America, click here to sign up for the Richardcyoung.com free weekly email.
