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☆ Fact Check-Zelenskiy's 'I don't know' response to journalist unrelated to Crimea Bridge
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

A video of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi responding “I don’t know” to a journalist’s question is being falsely associated with the July 17 Crimean Bridge explosion. It shows Zelenskiy standing at a podium at a press conference, seemingly taking a long pause, before smiling and saying: “I don’t know” in Ukrainian. The journalist’s question before Zelenskiy’s response is not included in the clip, though superimposed text suggests he was asked: “Who hit the Crimea Bridge?”. However, the clip of Zelenskiy was filmed during the NATO summit in Vilnius, held on July 11-12, thus predating the Crimea Bridge explosion. Versions of the clip that include the journalist’s preceding question show she asked, in Ukrainian: “When will we get ATACMS?” (here and here ).

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyi, “, Zelenskiy, Read Organizations: Facebook, Reuters, NATO, Army Tactical Missile Systems Locations: Crimea, Moscow, Ukraine, Vilnius

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —Despite an underwhelming first month of Ukraine’s much-anticipated summer push to liberate territory from Russian forces, Kyiv says its Western backers are not pressuring the country for quick results. Ukraine had hoped to use the push to expel a significant amount of Russian forces from Ukrainian soil and turn the tide of the war. Asked by CNN if Ukraine’s western allies were looking for quicker gains on the battlefield, Yermak said there was no such pressure from partner countries. Ukrainian Army spokesman Serhiy Cherevatyi said on Ukrainian television that Russian forces are putting up a “fierce resistance,” but Ukraine has the initiative. In his comments Saturday morning, southern command head Tarnavsky told Ukrainian TV viewers that nine Russian ammunition depots had been destroyed in the last day.

Persons: Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky, Yermak, Serhiy Cherevatyi, ”, Daniel Carde, Kupiansk, Cherevatyi, “, ” Lyman, ” Cherevatyi, Rob Lee, ” Lee, Alex Chan Tsz Yuk, Oleksandr Tarnavsky, Tarnavsky Organizations: Ukraine CNN, NATO, CNN, United, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Bakhmut, Ukrainian, State, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Kremlin, Arms Army Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Ukraine’s, Russian, Ukrainian, Lithuania, United States, France, United Kingdom, Bakhmut, Berhivka, Vremivka, Lyman, Donetsk, Russia, Novoselivske, Crimean, Zaporizhzhia, Berdiansk

☆ Leadership Troubles Roil Russian Military
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Gabriela Sá Pessoa | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +5 min

“We have put to rest any doubts and ambiguities about whether Ukraine will be in NATO,” he said. “It will!”The Ukrainian military’s Strategic Communications Department also posted a lengthy Twitter thread listing positive outcomes from the summit. In return, requests that were initially rebuffed — including Western battle tanks, missile systems, even training for F-16 fighter jets — have over time been met. The campaign is in its second month, and Mr. Zelensky has acknowledged that it is moving more slowly than some allies had hoped. But he warned that Ukraine may not hold a significant advantage in that type of strategy against the more numerous Russian forces.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Mr, ”, “, ” Michael Kofman, Kofman, Biden, Matthew Mpoke Bigg Organizations: NATO, Strategic Communications Department, Eurasia Program, Carnegie Endowment, International, Tactical Missile Systems Locations: Ukraine, Russian, United States, Russia, Lithuania, France, Germany, Ukrainian, Donetsk, Bakhmut, Melitopol, Britain, Kyiv

And France pledged a shipment of the same missiles, which it calls SCALPs, as NATO leaders gathered in Lithuania on Tuesday. Like the United States, France had previously ruled out providing Ukraine with longer-range missiles, over concerns they could be used to attack targets in Russia, escalating the conflict. The ATACMS are among the last major weapons systems that Kyiv wants and the United States is reluctant to give. France’s announcement on Tuesday could either fuel the pressure campaign or, conversely, ease it now that Ukraine is receiving long-range missiles from other countries. Mr. Reznikov made clear that he would not stop asking for ATACMs or long-range missiles from any ally.

Persons: Biden, Emmanuel Macron, Mr, Macron, Abrams, America’s, Lockheed Martin, ATACMS, what’s, ”, Franklin D, Kramer, Oleksii Reznikov, Reznikov, “, Eric Schmitt, Matthew Mpoke Bigg, Zolan Kanno, Youngs Organizations: NATO, Tactical Missile Systems, Pentagon, Russian, United, Kyiv, Lockheed, Republicans, Taurus Locations: Ukraine, France, Lithuania, United States, Russia, Britain, Crimea, Vilnius, Lithuanian, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Romania, Korean, “, Washington, London

☆ Opinion: Sending cluster bombs to Ukraine is a very bad idea
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Opinion Michael Bociurkiw | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Michael Bociurkiw CNNOn Friday, after months of debate, US President Joe Biden announced that, as part of a new $800 million military aid package, the administration will be sending controversial cluster munitions to Ukraine. “No to cluster bombs and yes to the legitimate defense of Ukraine, which we understand should not be carried out with cluster bombs,” said Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles. Discord among US allies over cluster munitions might have been avoided altogether, had western capitals moved more swiftly to provide Ukraine with lethal weaponry. To keep the Ukrainians from running out and being defeated, we must send them cluster munitions. Cluster munitions could bring Kyiv a temporary battlefield advantage.

Persons: Michael Bociurkiw, Joe Biden, “, ”, Margarita Robles, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Emannuel Macron, Andre Luis Alves, ” Biden, William Taylor, Jake Sullivan, Vladimir Putin —, Erin Burnett, Zelensky Organizations: Atlantic Council, Organization for Security, Cooperation, CNN, Ukraine CNN —, Michael Bociurkiw CNN, Spain’s, NATO, Tactical Missile Systems, British Storm Shadow, Defense Department, Cluster Munitions, Human Rights Watch, United States Fund, UNICEF, “, Sunday, Anadolu Agency, Getty, Twitter Locations: Odesa, Europe, Kyiv, Ukraine, Canada, Spain, New Zealand, Germany, Margarita Robles . New Zealand, Lithuania, Vilnius, Russia, France, United States, Asia, Geneva, AVDIIVKA, UKRAINE, Avdiivka, Vladimir Putin — Ukraine, Odessa

☆ Bad weather and Russian jammers prevent Ukraine from using its precious drones to retake area around the ruins of Bakhmut
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Bad weather and Russian jammers are preventing Ukraine from using precious drones around Bakhmut. Ukraine's counteroffensive is heavily relying on drones for air power, The Washington Post reported. Kyiv's forces remain posted around the outskirts and villages outside of the ruined city of Bakhmut. Experts say part of the problem is Ukraine's lack of advanced air support, such as Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) and Gray Eagle drones. Ukraine's biggest air asset right now is its UK-provided Storm Shadow missiles, which have seen major battlefield success in recent weeks.

Persons: they're Organizations: Washington Post, Service, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Shadow Locations: Ukraine, Bakhmut, Wall, Silicon, Russian, Russia

☆ Here's why Ukraine needs the US Army Tactical Missile System to win the 'deep battle' against Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The US is considering providing ATACMS to Ukraine, according to a WSJ report. Kyiv has long sought ballistic missiles, which could strike targets far beyond the front lines. Kyiv has long been asking the US for the Army Tactical Missile System, or ATACMS, which has a range of about 190 miles and could be used to strike Russian targets far beyond the front lines, including Crimea. "ATACMS is a long-range guided missile that gives operational commanders the immediate firepower to win the deep battle," says its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. The House Foreign Affairs Committee passed a resolution last week calling for ATACMS to be sent to Ukraine immediately.

Persons: Biden, Ben Hodges, Sergei Shoigu, Hodges, Lockheed Martin, Putin, ATACMS, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, Abrams, James Risch Organizations: Kyiv, Washington DC, Service, Wall Street, Army Tactical Missile, Army, Russian, The Telegraph, British Storm Shadow, US High Mobility Artillery, Lockheed, Black, White, Getty, Politico, US, Pentagon, Foreign Affairs, GOP, Reuters Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Crimea, Army Europe, Kherson, Kerch, Russia, Ukrainian, Odesa, Sevastopol, Washington , DC, Washington

Cluster munitions could boost Ukraine's counteroffensive to reclaim territory seized since Russia invaded in February 2022. Cluster munitions typically release large numbers of smaller bomblets that can kill indiscriminately over a wide area. Germany is one of 111 states party to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, a pact that does not include the United States. Biden waived prohibitions around the munitions, just as his predecessor Donald Trump did in 2021 to allow the export of cluster munitions technology to South Korea. 'VERY SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION'Ukraine previously had urged U.S. lawmakers to press the Biden administration to approve sending cluster munitions.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Joe Biden's, Sullivan, we've, Biden, Bradley, Antonio Guterres, Annalena Baerbock, Biden's, Donald Trump, Mykhailo Podolyak, Podolyak, Mike Stone, Nandita Bose, Steve Holland, Will Dunham, Grant McCool Organizations: United States, Pentagon, Russia, U.S . National Security, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, Stryker, Human Rights Watch, Cluster Munitions, Republicans, U.S . House, Representatives Foreign, U.S, Army Tactical Missile, Munitions, Thomson Locations: Ukraine, Russia, U.S, Ukrainian, Germany, United States, Britain, South Korea, Russian

☆ The US is finally giving Ukraine's military cluster munitions, deadly and controversial explosives that could be 'devastating' for Russia
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Chris Panella | Jake Epstein | Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

The US announced a new weapons package that includes cluster munitions for Ukraine on Friday. Cluster munitions are deadly and controversial, but they could boost Ukraine's counteroffensive. The White House and Pentagon announced a new $800 million security assistance package for Ukraine on Friday that, for the first time, includes cluster munitions. Cluster munitions can be dropped from the air or fired as artillery and deal damage over a larger area. Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty ImagesDue to their range and movement, cluster munitions can be unpredictable and hit outside their intended target.

Persons: —, Kurt Volker, Federico Borsari, it's, Wojciech Grzedzinski, Ben Hodges, Borsari, hasn't, Pierre Crom, Biden, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, willy nilly, Colin Kahl, I'm, Kahl Organizations: US, — Kyiv, Service, Pentagon, Ukraine, NATO, Army Tactical Missile Systems, Center for, The Washington, Getty, Army, Kyiv, Munitions, Amnesty, Rights Watch, National Locations: Ukraine, Hai, Lebanon, Russia, Toretsk, Izium

☆ No Russian ammo depots would be safe in Ukraine if the US provided longer-range HIMARS missiles and better drones, retired US general says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Jake Epstein | Chris Panella | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

ATACMS and new drones would allow Kyiv hit all Russian positions in Ukraine, a retired US general said. The Biden administration has been reluctant to send longer-range missiles and drones to Ukraine. Retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges told Insider that Washington is likely concerned about Russian escalation. ATACMS in particular could make it easier for Ukraine to target the occupied Crimean peninsula and Russia's Black Sea Fleet. "Because we, the US, have continued to refuse to provide ATACMS, we have, in effect, created a safe haven for the Russians inside Ukraine.

Persons: Biden, Ben Hodges, —, it's, Hodges, Serhii Mykhalchuk, Pat Ryder, Mark Milley, ATACMS, they've, Abrams, Vladimir Putin Organizations: Service, Army Tactical Missile, US Army, Army, Getty, Street, Pentagon Press, Air Force, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Artillery, Shadow, AP, NATO, Kyiv Locations: Ukraine, US, Washington, Moscow, Russian, Army Europe, Kyiv, ATACMS, Crimean, Ukrainian, Odesa, Sevastopol, Donetsk Oblast, Zaporizhzhia region, Russia

☆ Exclusive: Zelensky says he wanted counteroffensive to start ‘much earlier’ to pre-empt Russian defenses
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Erin Burnett Yon Pomrenze Mick Krever Victoria Butenko | Erin Burnett | Yon Pomrenze | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

In any direction Ukraine chooses to attack, however, time is the enemy, Zelensky told Burnett. Half of Russia supported Putin,” Zelensky said. I don’t think about it.”Switching to English, Zelensky told Burnett that he values the solitary moments. Think, think. And Ukrainian music – of course, I like Ukrainian music a lot, because Ukraine is (my) native language.

Persons: CNN —, Volodymyr Zelensky, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Zelensky, “, ”, Burnett, Defense Hanna Maliar, “ It’s, ” Zelensky, Putin, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, don’t, CNN Burnett Organizations: CNN, Defense, Tactical Missile Systems, United, Prigozhin, DC Locations: Odesa, Ukraine, Russia, Western, Russian, United States, Ukrainian

☆ The US is close to approving the supply of ATACMS to Ukraine, a report said. Here's why Kyiv need them to win the 'deep battle.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-02 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The US is considering providing ATACMS to Ukraine, according to a WSJ report. Kyiv has long sought its ballistic missiles, which could strike targets far beyond the front lines. "ATACMS is a long-range guided missile that gives operational commanders the immediate firepower to win the deep battle," says its manufacturer, Lockheed Martin. The Pentagon said on Thursday that it was not aware of any imminent decision to send ATACMS to Ukraine following the Wall Street Journal report, per Reuters. However, US and European officials say that behind the scenes, the tone in Washington has recently shifted, and there appears to be a greater appetite to send Ukraine more advanced weapons, per the Journal report.

Persons: Biden, —, Sergei Shoigu, HIMARS, Ben Wallace, Lockheed Martin, Putin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Joe Biden, Brendan Smialowski, ATACMS, Abrams, James Risch, General Kyrylo Budanov Organizations: Kyiv, Washington DC, Service, Wall Street Journal, Army Tactical Missile, Russian, The Telegraph, British Storm Shadow, US High Mobility Artillery, Lockheed, White, Getty, Politico, US, Pentagon, Foreign Affairs, Reuters, Military Intelligence Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Kherson, Kerch, Russia, Washington , DC, Washington

☆ Angered by counteroffensive complaints, Ukraine's top general says the expected mission is 'not feasible at all' with just the weapons his army has now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Kyiv's top general, doesn't want to hear complaints that it's moving too slow. The pace is grinding in some sectors of the front, but Kyiv's top general says he doesn't want to hear complaints it's going too slow. Kyiv's military is currently undergoing several offensive maneuvers along the front lines in the eastern and southern regions and has made small — but, at times, costly — territorial gains in the process. Armed with the right missiles, these aircraft could help support Ukraine's air defenses and inflict damage on Russian positions at range. "So we just need to continue to support Ukraine and ensure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign independent nation in Europe."

Persons: Valerii, —, it's, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Zaluzhnyi, Sasha Maslov, Ukraine doesn't, Neskucne, Ercin Erturk, Biden, Pat Ryder, Mark Milley, there's, GENYA SAVILOV, wishlist, Jens Stoltenberg, We'll, Stoltenberg Organizations: Washington Post, Service, Ukraine, Ukraine's Armed Forces, Ukrainian Air Assault Forces, Washington, Getty, NATO, Ukraine's, Pentagon, Russia, Ukrainian Army, Anadolu Agency, Getty Images, Army Tactical Missile, Artillery, Street, Pentagon Press, Air Force, Joint Chiefs, Staff Locations: Ukraine, Russian, British, Russia, Storojove, Donetsk, ATACMS, Ukrainian, Avdiivka, AFP, Denmark, Netherlands, Europe, Lithuania

☆ Russian ruble extends freefall as US weighs new weapon for Ukraine amid Putin regime's disarray
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Filip De Mott | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Russian ruble extended its slide, dipping to a 87.75-per-dollar level on Thursday. The mutiny may lead the US to consider supplying Ukraine with a new long-range missile. Sign up for our newsletter to get the inside scoop on what traders are talking about — delivered daily to your inbox. The US is now considering arming Ukraine with the Army Tactical Missile System after previously opposing it, sources told the Wall Street Journal. The ATACMS long-range missile would provide Kyiv with the ability to strike Russian targets farther beyond the frontlines, making on-the-ground support more challenging.

Persons: Wagner, —, Andrei Belousov, Wagner's Yevgeny Prigozhin Organizations: Service, Moscow Saturday, Army Tactical Missile System, Wall Street, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Moscow, Russia, Russian

☆ Ukraine war: Zelensky signaled the counteroffensive against Russia is underway. Here's what to expect
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-11 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

There has long been speculation of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, not least as it has been talked up by Ukrainian officials. In reality, Ukraine has been softening up Russian forces for months and is already engaged in efforts to recapture territory. Gains for Ukrainian forces in Zaporizhzhia could strike a major blow to Russia’s wider campaign. Ukrainian forces attacking Russian near Bakhmut. NATO intelligence estimates that for every Ukrainian soldier killed defending Bakhmut, Russian forces lost at least five.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Wagner, Bakhmut, Donald Trump, Trump, ” Organizations: CNN, Russian, Kharkiv, Ukrainian, Kyiv, Kremlin, Bakhmut . 3rd Assault Brigade, Ukrainian Armed Forces Press Service, Reuters, Tactical Missile Systems, US, CNN Town Hall Locations: Ukraine ”, Ukrainian, Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donbas, Crimea, “, –, Bakhmut, Russian, Bakhmut ., Reuters Ukraine, NATO, Kingdom, United States, Germany

☆ Russia adapted to the game-changing HIMARS, but Ukraine's new Storm Shadow missiles could put the fear back into its commanders, warfare experts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-20 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Experts say Russian commanders are now facing logistical headaches and a renewed sense of fear. Warfare experts say Storm Shadow missiles could spark new logistical headaches for Russia, giving Kyiv a massive capability to put the fear back into Moscow's commanders who thought they were safe and out of reach. With an operational range of 155 miles, Storm Shadow will more than triple the distance for Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities. "So the more that these Russian commanders are exposed to Ukrainian fires, I expect their survivability to decrease," Barros said. "Employed well, in conjunction with psychological operations and other capabilities, Storm Shadow offers myriad opportunities to cognitively attack the enemy," he said.

☆ I Witnessed a Missile Attack in Kyiv, Ukraine - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

KYIV, Ukraine — This week, I was jolted awake by an air raid siren for the first time since my service in Iraq just over a decade ago. It was roughly 3 a.m. on Monday night, and I was sleeping soundly here in Ukraine’s capital. Ukrainian officials called it “exceptional.”The inbound missiles included Kinzhal hypersonic missiles, among the most vaunted weapons in the Russian arsenal. The skies lit up over Kyiv as the Ukrainians launched air defenses, including what appeared to be American-made Patriot missiles. And yet again Russian military capabilities had proven to be exaggerated.

The error – which lawmakers and congressional staffers were briefed on Thursday – triggered frustration from Republicans on the House Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees. “The revelation of a three-billion-dollar accounting error discovered two months ago and only today shared with Congress is extremely problematic, to say the least. Now, due to this revelation, there is about $5.3 billion still available, far more than even the largest single package provided to Ukraine. But now that there is more funding available, congressional sources said they are less concerned about the immediate need for a new funding package for Ukraine. The accounting error occurred because when the US transferred weaponry to Ukraine, they counted the value of replacing the weapon instead of the value of actual weapon, defense officials explained.

☆ Britain will send Storm Shadow cruise missiles to Ukraine, giving it dramatically enhanced range to strike at Russian positions deep in occupied territory
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Alia Shoaib | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The UK Defense Secretary confirmed Britain would send Ukraine Storm Shadow long-range missiles. Ukraine has repeatedly asked for weapons to hit Russian positions deep behind the front line. The stealthy Storm Shadow is an air-launched long-range cruise missile jointly developed by the UK and France. The US has said it will not send long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems to Kyiv because it has few to spare. It was the first Western ally to send Ukraine its Challenger 2 tanks, after which the US sent M1 Abrams tanks.

☆ Ukraine wants F-16s to shoot down Russian strike fighters dropping bombs it can't beat. Airpower experts say give them the jets.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Its defenses struggle to counter the bombs, so Ukraine wants tools to take out the Russian strike fighters. "Guided bombs are tricky for air defense because they have short flight times and usually very little infrared signature," he said. "The air defense system with the longest distance available to us is the S-300, but it's Soviet-era weapons." That is absolutely unrealistic," he said, challenging the arguments against sending fighter aircraft. There are significant training, supply chain, and operational hurdles to overcome, making essential ground-based air defense a priority in the meantime.

☆ Ukrainian officials planned 'mass strikes' on Moscow and other cities 'with everything' they had, but they stood down after US intervention: report
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The Washington Post reports Ukrainian officials had plans for "mass strikes" on Russian cities on the first anniversary's of the war. Ukraine's military intelligence chief directed an officer to hit "with everything" available, but the plan wasn't carried out. Officials in Kyiv have disputed the Post report based on leaked documents, calling it "strange media" and "sensation." Ukraine is also suspected to be behind a number of explosive sea drone attacks on Russian installations. Smoke rises after explosions were heard from the direction of a Russian military airbase near Novofedorivka, Crimea August 9, 2022.

☆ Senior Biden official says the US can't keep doing 'anything and everything' for Ukraine in the war: The Washington Post
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-14 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A senior official told The Washington Post that US aid for Ukraine may not go on indefinitely. The official said Biden's staff has told Ukraine the US "can't do anything and everything forever." Other officials told The Post aid to Ukraine might be harder to pass with a GOP-controlled House. The senior official told The Post the Biden administration has a "very strong view" that continually approving large aid packages for Ukraine will be difficult with a Republican-led House. But the senior official told The Post that Biden's undertaking did not "pertain to the amount of assistance" that the US might give Ukraine in the future.

☆ US allies bordering Russia are buying up HIMARS, weapons that have devastated Putin's forces in Ukraine, and longer-range rockets and missiles for them
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-08 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The US State Department has approved the sale of HIMARS launchers, missiles, and rockets to Poland. The country is among several other US allies bordering Russia that have sought to obtain this capability. The HIMARS has proven to be a highly effective weapon for Ukraine, which has used the system to devastate Russian forces on the battlefield. With this sale, Poland would become the latest eastern European country that borders Russia to secure the much-celebrated HIMARS. The State Department last year approved a sale of HIMARS to Estonia, which borders mainland Russia.

The potential sale includes High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), which Kyiv has praised for their battlefield successes such as destroying Russian warehouses and command posts. The package includes 18 HIMARS launchers, 45 of the 185-mile (297-km) range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles and more than 1,000 Guided Multiple Rocket Launch System (GMLRS) rockets. The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the potential sale on Tuesday. In May, Poland requested an additional 500 HIMARS launchers from the United States, but, according to Polish media, Lockheed Martin Corp (LMT.N) said it was possible to offer around 200. In October, Poland signed an agreement to buy 288 Chunmoo rocket launchers from South Korea.

"This could slow down [a Russian assault] significantly," said Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Ukraine's former defence minister. This was a major boost for the Ukrainian military, allowing it to destroy Russian ammunition dumps and weapons storage facilities. "We are currently unable to reach Russian military facilities more than 80 kilometres away," said Ukrainian military analyst Oleksandr Musiyenko. Beyond the logistical impact, the addition of a longer-range weapon to Ukraine's arsenal could help shake Russian confidence. Still, said Karako, it is possible the Ukrainians could end up receiving an even longer range weapon in the future.

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