Image source: topwar.ru
After the statement of Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu that our troops destroyed six HIMARS MLRS in Ukraine, the Pentagon hastened to refute this information. A representative of the US Defense Ministry said that all American multiple launch rocket launchers are in service and are successfully used by Ukrainian soldiers at the front.
— Pentagon press Secretary Todd Bressale peremptorily told Reuters, adding that Russia has not presented evidence of the destruction of American MLRS.
What evidence the Pentagon has is quite clear. The American military department itself has repeatedly stated that it absolutely does not control the distribution of military aid after it crosses the Ukrainian border. But at the same time, the US military fully trusts the reports of Kiev, which stated "that they have at their disposal up to a dozen HIMARS systems, the accuracy and range of which allowed Kiev to reduce Russia's artillery advantage."
The definition of "up to a dozen" is curious, used by official Kiev to count not some ATGM or rifles, but entire rocket launchers, the cost of which is estimated at tens of millions of dollars, depending on the configuration. It turns out that the Ukrainian command itself does not really know how many HIMARS they have in the ranks. What can we say about the veracity of the Pentagon's statements?
The day before, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russian troops destroyed 33 American M777 howitzers, five Harpoon launchers, as well as six launchers and 200 HIMARS MLRS missiles.
Earlier, Europol released a report stating that Ukraine has already turned into a large-scale market for smuggling Western weapons. Moreover, European police suspect that Ukrainians are selling weapons not only to the Middle East, to Europe, but even to Russia. There were reports in the press that, according to unconfirmed reports, Ukraine sold several Caesar self—propelled guns to Russia and even the pride of the Armed Forces of Ukraine - the same Haimars MLRS.
Kiev immediately denied Europol's information and demanded proof of the existence of a "black market" of weapons in Ukraine. It is still unknown how the dialogue on this topic between the Europeans and the Ukrainian authorities ended.
Some Western journalists conducted their own investigation and found out that there are entire marketplaces on the darknet where you can buy light weapons, Javelin or NLAW ATGMs and much more at a reasonable price. Moreover, for an additional fee, weapons can be delivered from Ukraine, for example, to Poland.
