These American multiple rocket launchers have fired at the DPR and LPR more than once
In Ukraine, Russian forces destroyed the American HIMARS multiple launch rocket launcher for the first time, the Russian Defense Ministry said on July 17. The military department also reported heavy losses of the 115th mechanized brigade of the VFU, operating in the now key Seversky direction. Three helicopters and four enemy planes were eliminated in the air over the weekend. Experts note that the multiple launch rocket launchers transferred to the United States still have a serious vulnerability that allows them to be effectively dealt with.
Blow to HIMARS
According to the statement of the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, "in the area of the settlement of Krasnoarmeysk of the Donetsk People's Republic, a high-precision ground-based weapon destroyed a launcher and a transport-loading vehicle of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system manufactured by the United States."
In total, 12 HIMARS and a stock of high-precision ammunition for them have been delivered to Ukraine from the USA to date.
On July 17, the People's Militia of the LPR reported the deliberate destruction by HIMARS missiles of a trolleybus depot in the city of Alchevsk along with urban transport and demonstrated the remnants of these ammunition. Two volunteers of the project "Food of Life" were killed by the impact. Donbass", which delivers hot food to those liberated areas where the tense humanitarian situation still persists.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
— There are not so many of these installations, so the destruction of each is a serious success, — military expert Dmitry Boltenkov explained to Izvestia. — The vulnerability of the Haimars is in their short range. So far, the Americans have given Ukraine only GMLRS missiles with a range of 70-80 km. To defeat their targets in the rear, they have to move vehicles close to the front line, where they can be detected. Drones are becoming the most important tool for this. After the detection of HIMARS or the vehicles used to deliver ammunition for them, the UAVs can promptly transmit the coordinates to the headquarters, where they will decide whether to strike. A Tornado and even a ballistic Iskander can "fly" in response. Gradually, all American cars will be disabled.
The problem will become more serious if official Kiev receives long-range high-precision ATACMS missiles with a range of up to 300 km, the expert noted. Then HIMARS will be able to operate from the depths of their territory without approaching the front line. Due to the incompletely suppressed air defense and fighter aircraft of the enemy, it is much more difficult to find them there with the help of drones.
On the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that high-precision long-range air-based missiles destroyed the storage warehouse of foreign anti-ship missiles Harpoon in Odessa, workshops for the production of components and repair of ballistic missiles "Tochka-U" and multiple launch rocket systems in Dnepropetrovsk.
The Russian military department also stated that as a result of high-precision strikes, the 115th mechanized brigade of the VFU, operating in the Seversky direction, was actually destroyed. Over the past few days of fighting, its losses amounted to more than 600 people, and residents of nearby settlements controlled by nationalists are urgently being mobilized to replenish the compound.
Up to 200 nationalists and foreign mercenaries, as well as 13 units of armored and automotive equipment, were destroyed by the strike of the Russian Aerospace Forces at the temporary deployment point of the 123rd Theroborona Brigade.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
Against the background of significant losses in the Ukrainian army, desertion has become more frequent, Igor Konashenkov said. In particular, the rifle company of the 58th battalion of the 104th Separate Theroborona Brigade left its positions in full force. The same was done by 45 nationalists of the 204th battalion of the 241st Theroborona brigade, demanding to rotate them to the west of Ukraine.
Counter - battery fighting
On July 15-17, the Russian Armed Forces continued to strike military targets on the territory of Ukraine.
When hitting the deployment point of the 97th battalion of the 60th Motorized Infantry Brigade in the Zaporozhye region, up to 65 nationalists and over ten units of special vehicles were destroyed.
In addition, eight control points, including the battalion of the 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade, the 242nd battalion of the 241st Air Defense Brigade, the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 3rd Tank Brigade of the VFU, seven ammunition depots and 44 areas of concentration of troops, were hit by high-precision weapons of the Russian Aerospace Forces in two days.
During the counter-battery struggle, three platoons of multiple rocket launchers, 24 artillery platoons of Hyacinth-B howitzers and D-30 guns, as well as artillery units in firing positions in 180 districts were destroyed in two days, the Defense Ministry said.
Operational-tactical, army aviation, missile troops and artillery hit 42 control points, five ammunition depots and 378 troop concentration areas.
Photo: Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
Image source: iz.ru
In an air battle, three helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Forces were shot down by Russian fighters over the weekend: Mi-17, Mi-8 and Mi-24. As well as three aircraft: two MiG-29 and Su-25.
Russian air defense units shot down one Su-25, 15 unmanned aerial vehicles, two Ukrainian ballistic missiles "Tochka-U" and 10 projectiles of multiple rocket launchers "Hurricane" and HIMARS.
— In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 257 aircraft, 140 helicopters, 1558 unmanned aerial vehicles, 355 anti—aircraft missile systems, 4084 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 747 multiple rocket launchers, 3151 field artillery guns and mortars, as well as 4379 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed, - the general listed- Lieutenant Igor Konashenkov.
Battle for the crossing
On July 17, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the soldiers and officers who showed courage and dedication during the special operation.
The battalion tactical group of Corporal Serhiy Gugalo fought fierce battles with Ukrainian nationalists during the liberation of the settlement. Sergey, as part of the tank crew, entered the enemy's flank and suddenly struck, destroying an enemy tank, one IFV and part of the enemy infantry. Despite heavy retaliatory fire from the nationalists, Sergei destroyed another enemy infantry fighting vehicle, infantry positions and at least 20 militants with accurate fire.
The battalion under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Salmansky liberated the settlement from the armed formations of Ukrainian nationalists. During a fierce clash, the battalion's forces created a gap in the militants' defensive formations and destroyed up to 15 armored vehicles and about 150 nationalists. The surviving militants retreated, leaving their positions.
Photo: RIA Novosti
Image source: iz.ru
"The bold and decisive actions of Lieutenant Colonel Salmansky ensured the victory of Russian servicemen in the battle with the outnumbered nationalists, which led to the liberation of the settlement," the Defense Ministry said.
Senior Lieutenant Ivannikov's unit defended the pontoon crossing from repeated attacks by nationalists.
Ivannikov skillfully led his subordinates and fearlessly fought the radicals. His unit repelled three attempts by Ukrainian militants to conquer the facility, destroyed two tanks, three infantry fighting vehicles and up to 20 nationalists. Control over the crossing was retained.
Private Timur Soktoev, as part of a tactical airborne assault, carried out the task of taking control of an important strategic object. After landing in the area of the task, Timur, under continuous enemy fire, personally destroyed two T-64 tanks, BMP-1 and a large number of radicals.
Thanks to his courage and professionalism, the task of capturing and holding a strategic object was completed, the military department noted.
Junior Sergeant Vitaly Strogoff was patrolling a protected facility when he found three armed saboteurs. He crept up to them unnoticed and detained the nationalists without a single shot.
On another night, the radicals again tried to infiltrate the location of the Russian troops. Strogoff discovered them in time and engaged in battle with a numerically superior enemy. Under his able leadership, some of the nationalists were destroyed. After waiting for reinforcements, the soldiers launched a counteroffensive and destroyed the remaining militants.
Photo: TASS/Vitaly Nevar
Image source: iz.ru
The operational group of the Marine Corps, which included the lieutenant of the medical service Vladislav Parfenov, liberated a large settlement from Ukrainian nationalists. During the fighting, Vladislav personally carried out more than 60 servicemen from the battlefield and provided qualified assistance, 20 of whom soon returned to service and continued to oust the militants from their positions.
Anton Lavrov
Andrey Fedorov
