Ukraine calls for ramp-up of US precision rocket system deliveries

Ukraine has called on the West to scale up significantly its supply of the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), an advanced multiple rocket launcher, to resist Russian advances in its territory.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov made the request during a virtual appearance at the Washington-based think tank Atlantic Council on Tuesday, calling the US precision rocket systems a "game-changer" that could allow a counteroffensive against Russian forces.

"These systems allowed us to destroy approximately 30 command stations and ammunition storages," Reznikov said.

"This has significantly slowed down the Russian advance and dramatically decreased the intensity of their artillery shelling. So it's working. We are grateful to our partners," he added.

However, he said, at least 100 more HIMARS systems are needed for a counter-offensive, stressing, "That could be a game-changer on the battlefield in that case."

Since mid-June, the United States has delivered eight units of HIMARS, which can precisely strike targets within 80 kilometers (50 miles) using the ammunition that has also been provided, with plans for four more.

Ukraine asks for more weapons to halt Russian advances

Ukraine has pleaded urgently for more weapons in a bid to resist Russian advances in the south and the east fronts, as European leaders are expected to travel to the capital, Kiev.

Reznikov further renewed a call for longer-range rockets — 100 to 150 kilometers (60-90 miles) — to cut off Russian units from their support.

"We don't need the strategy of the meat-grinder," he said.

Since the onset of Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, the United States and its European allies have been pouring batches of advanced weapons into the ex-Soviet country.

Russia has warned that the flood of weapons will prolong the war.

Ukraine to target Russia's Black Sea Fleet with Western weapons

Meanwhile, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Volodymyr Havrylov has claimed that Kiev is preparing to attack the Russian Black Sea Fleet stationed in the Crimean Peninsula with Western weapons.

"We are receiving anti-ship capabilities and sooner or later we will target the fleet," Havrylov said in an interview with The Times newspaper on Monday, adding that attacking the fleet could help Ukraine take back Crimea, which was taken by Russia in 2014.

"Russia will have to leave Crimea if they wish to exist as a country," he said. "We are ready to target them all over the Black Sea if we have that capability."

Havrylov further noted that Ukrainian officials were in talks to determine whether they could use US-supplied weapons to attack Russian forces in Crimea.

"Sooner or later we will have enough resources to target Russia in the Black Sea and Crimea," he said, adding, "Crimea is Ukrainian territory, that's why any target there is legitimate for us."

Crimea declared independence from Ukraine in March 2014, and formally applied to become part of Russia, following a referendum that had been declared illegal by Kiev. That sparked tensions between Kiev and the West on the one side and Russia on the other.

Six more French Caesar howitzers 'on the way' to Ukraine

Separately on Tuesday, France's Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna said another six French-made Caesar artillery guns promised to Ukraine were "on their way" to the war-torn country.

Twelve of the guns, prized for their accuracy and mobility, have already been delivered to Ukraine and the six others, promised to Kiev by French President Emmanuel Macron in June, "are on their way," Colonna told a Senate commission.

Built by France's partly state-owned arms maker Nexter, the Caesar is a 155-mm howitzer mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis, capable of firing shells at ranges of more than 40 kilometers (25 miles).

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