This night-time footage reportedly shows explosions caused by High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems made in the United States supplied to Ukraine in a bid to push back Russia’s forces and retake the Kherson region.
The footage was obtained from the Chernihiv Regional Territorial Center of Recruitment and Social Support, which said on Thursday, August 4, that the footage shows “HIMARS working against the enemy in the Kherson region”.
The United States has sent a number of High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems to Ukraine (HIMARS) and is set to send more.
The systems reportedly have a longer range – up to nearly 200 miles – than other weaponry used by both Ukraine and Russia in that category, allowing Ukrainian forces to reach Russian targets that were previously out of range and even into Russia itself.
Zenger News contacted the Chernihiv Regional Territorial Center for further comment, as well as the Russian Ministry of Defense, but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is calling a “special military operation”. Thursday marks the 162nd day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 4, Russia had lost about 41,500 personnel, 1,789 tanks, 4,026 armored combat vehicles, 946 artillery units, 260 multiple launch rocket systems, 118 air defense systems, 223 warplanes, 191 helicopters, 742 drones, 182 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,960 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 83 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The United Nations is carrying out a fact-finding mission after requests from both Russia and Ukraine following the deaths of 53 Ukrainian POWs in an explosion at a barracks at the Olenivka prison in pro-Russian-controlled Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.
The United States Senate has ratified Finland’s and Sweden’s accession to NATO, with 95 voting in favor and one vote against. The U.S. is now the 23rd NATO member to ratify the countries’ bids to join the alliance. All 30 members have to ratify their bids before Finland and Sweden can become members.
The first grain ship exporting food from Ukraine under a deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations has reached Turkey. It is the first of 27 ships planned so far that, it is hoped, will help fight the global food crisis. It has been inspected and is now expected to move through to the other side of the Bosphorus Strait.
Former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has faced criticism for having a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin after traveling on holiday to Moscow.
Speaking in New York on Wednesday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that record profits posted by oil and gas companies amid the war in Ukraine amount to “grotesque greed” and urged governments to implement windfall taxes to raise funds to help those most in need.
