"Russia's Military Faces Its Last Summer"... Ukraine Turns the Tables

10 Russian Bases Bombed in 2 Weeks
US Advanced Rocket 'HIMARS'... Fires from 77 km Away and Escapes in 3 Minutes

On March 6 (local time), U.S. military personnel stand next to the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) at the World Defense Expo held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This multiple launch rocket system can fire six rockets at once, and one unit typically matches the firepower of an entire artillery battalion. A single attack can devastate an area roughly the size of a soccer field. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] An analysis has emerged that the U.S. administration under Joe Biden's military weapon support to Ukraine is becoming a game-changer that is turning the tide of the Russia-Ukraine war.

On the 1st (local time), The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) provided by the U.S. to Ukraine has been deployed in actual combat on the eastern front of Ukraine, precisely striking key Russian targets.

Lieutenant Valentin Koval, who commands the HIMARS operating unit on the eastern front, told WSJ, "We have struck 10 Russian bases in the past two weeks." He also praised, "HIMARS is the most sophisticated weapon the U.S. has supplied to Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February."

He added, "Attacks on the Russian field command located not far from here had failed for over a month, but the situation changed after the U.S. provided HIMARS," and said, "The balance of power is shifting in the fierce artillery battles with the Russian army."

A video released on social media last month showed the destruction of the Russian field command headquarters in eastern Izium, an area occupied by Russian forces. The Ukrainian military announced that 17 Russian soldiers, including three Russian officers, were killed in this attack.

HIMARS is a multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) mounted on an armored truck, capable of firing six precision-guided rockets at once.

This range is about twice that of the M777 howitzer (approximately 40 km) previously supplied by the U.S. to Ukraine. Once the launcher is positioned, rockets can be fired within 2 to 3 minutes. It is relatively compact and easy to operate, allowing the launcher to leave the firing site within 20 seconds after firing.

The Ukrainian HIMARS operating units trained for three weeks in May at a German base under U.S. instructors.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov tweeted upon the arrival of the first batch of HIMARS, "The summer for the Russian occupying forces will be hotter. This summer will be the last summer of the Russian army's life," implying that the support of HIMARS increases the possibility of driving Russian forces out of Ukraine and achieving victory in the war.

According to WSJ, there was initially some opposition within the U.S. regarding HIMARS support to Ukraine, due to concerns that Russia might retaliate against the U.S. or its allies over the support. However, the Ukrainian government has consistently argued that long-range artillery is necessary to eliminate the massive firepower of the Russian army.

The U.S. has supplied a total of four HIMARS units. WSJ added that four more units are scheduled to be delivered by mid-July. On the 1st, the U.S. Department of Defense announced an additional security assistance package worth $820 million (approximately 1.0643 trillion KRW) for Ukraine.