Ukraine ‘fires first US missile into Russia’ just days after President Joe Biden gave permission for the High Mobility Rocket Artillery System to be used to strike inside Russia
Ukraine claimed last night that it had successfully hit a missile system within Russia use of American weapons.
It says the country’s armed forces destroyed Russian rocket launchers with an attack in the Belgorod region.
Senior politician Yehor Chernev claimed that Ukrainian forces used a High Mobility Rocket Artillery System, or HIMARS, The New York Times reported.
It comes just days after the US allowed Ukraine to fire American weapons at Russia.
Ukraine claimed last night that it had successfully hit a missile system in Russia using US weapons, just days after President Joe Biden (pictured) authorized the use of the missiles
US and Philippine forces fire a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) during live fire exercises on March 31, 2023
Meanwhile, Joe Biden has ruled out Ukraine joining NATO in a major policy change. The development comes after defense alliance members, including the US and Britain, issued a communiqué last year declaring that “Ukraine’s future lies in NATO.”
But in an effort to end the two-and-a-half-year conflict, the president has declared that he is against the “natoization” of the country.
Although his comments came under heavy criticism in Kiev, analysts believe Biden’s comments could bring a settlement closer.
Russia has repeatedly referred to Ukraine’s possible membership of NATO to justify its invasion and occupation of the country.
It comes as NATO countries are set to work together to create a ‘drone wall’ on the security alliance’s eastern flank, which aims to provide 24-hour surveillance for threats across the border from Russia and White -Russia.
Six countries that share a land border with Russia or Belarus – namely Finland, Norway, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia – will pool their resources to ensure thousands of military-grade and consumer drones can pass through the skies over their eastern regions patrolling.
A soldier from the 3rd Battalion, Royal Regiment of Scotland, pilots the Parrot Anafi drone to identify targets during the Live Firing Tactical Training phase of Exercise Vigilant Isles on November 18, 2023
The MQ-9 Reaper (Reaper MQ-9A) is a medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) remotely piloted aircraft designed for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and strike missions
Ministers from all six countries met last week to discuss the joint project, which is still in its infancy.
The timetable for its deployment and the exact parameters of the initiative have yet to be finalized, but it is believed that each country will maintain control over its own assets and work with allied governments and military forces on intelligence sharing.
The drones will be used primarily for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), but Rinkevics said attack drones could also be included in the fleet for defense purposes.
Poland, the only NATO country to spend 4% of its GDP on defence, said the drone initiative will be part of a much wider strategy that will see Warsaw spend billions on improving its security capabilities, amid claims that it is routinely targeted by hostile actions from Russia. and Belarus.
These alleged actions include cyber attacks, attempted arson and illegally pushing migrants across the border, which officials say are intended to “destabilize” the European Union.
