Russia claims to have destroyed two concealed U.S.-made HIMARS systems near the border with Kursk

By richardbrown // 2024-09-09

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Russia has reportedly destroyed two High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) supplied by the United States to Ukraine. These missile systems were reportedly found while concealed in Ukraine's northern Sumy Oblast and were specifically targeted due to their participation in Kyiv's incursion into Russia's Kursk Oblast. Moscow's Defense Ministry announced on Sept. 4 that it had captured footage of the strike that eliminated the two HIMARS systems. The attack took place at night near the village Khrapivshchyna, around 15 miles from the border with Kursk Oblast. The footage shows vehicles moving under the cover of trees in a forest area south of the settlement, followed by a missile strike that resulted in a significant explosion. The strike also reportedly destroyed a U.S.-supplied M270A1 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) and two Ukrainian support vehicles, and killed or wounded up to 20 soldiers. Third parties and military analysts have confirmed that the strike was conducted by a Russian Iskander-M OTRK short-range ballistic missile. Monitoring of the footage indicated multiple explosions after the initial missile strike, suggesting that the HIMARS and MLRS ammunition detonated, helping to destroy the U.S.-supplied weapons. Russian sources are indicating that the Sumy Oblast has seen massive activity as a primary staging point for Armed Forces of Ukraine units in Kyiv's incursion into neighboring Kursk Oblast in Russia. Ukrainian officials have described the operation as an attempt to create a "buffer zone" on Russian soil. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated this week that he aims to retain these territories as part of his broader strategy for victory. Meanwhile, Russian sources are claiming that Ukrainian borderlands have become another "cemetery" for military equipment, weapons and launchers transferred by Kyiv's Western allies. Over a month, Russia has claimed the destruction of eight HIMARS and two MLRS just in Sumy Oblast.

HIMARS ineffective due to Russian jamming

The HIMARS units supplied to Ukraine by the U.S. has been described as “completely ineffective” on the battlefield due to persistent Russian jamming, according to a classified Ukrainian weapons assessment reviewed by The Washington Post. This report highlights ongoing issues with some of America’s most advanced weapon systems. (Related: Russia's jamming technology reducing accuracy of U.S. weapons in Ukraine to just 10%.) The assessment revealed that Kyiv has had to halt or reduce the use of certain U.S.-supplied weapons due to targeting problems caused by Moscow’s electronic warfare capabilities. One source indicated that the HIMARS sometimes misses its target by more than 50 feet. In addition to the HIMARS, the report noted that Russian jamming is also affecting the effectiveness of Excalibur GPS-guided artillery shells. The assessment claims that Excalibur’s precision has diminished, challenging its previously held reputation for "one shot, one target." The Russian Defense Ministry has asserted that U.S.-supplied HIMARS rockets are no longer considered a major threat. According to the ministry's statement, Russia’s Buk-M1 surface-to-air missiles are capable of targeting the advanced American weapon with "sniper accuracy." The Buk-M1 is noted for its high accuracy and has a striking range of up to 100 kilometers (62 miles), making it a significant counter to Western-made missiles. Watch this short clip of the drone footage proving that American-supplied HIMARS launchers in Sumy Oblast were destroyed. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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HIMARS ineffective due to Russian jamming

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