Russian forces have obliterated a US-made HIMARS launcher as well as its crew in Ukraine’s Sumy Region, Moscow’s Defense Ministry has claimed.
The strike took place overnight in a rural area, according to purported footage of the engagement released by the ministry on Sunday. It showed several vehicles driving down a road and stopping next to a large building, which was then wiped out by a powerful explosion.
The ministry said the site was hit by an Iskander missile, which “left only a crater” in its wake. The location of the strike was identified as the village of Shaposhnikovo, roughly 10 km southwest of the regional capital Sumy and 45 km from the Russian border.
Sumy Region is adjacent to Russia’s Kursk Region, which Ukraine invaded last month, committing thousands of soldiers and some of its best weaponry in an attempt to seize territory. After some initial success, Kiev’s forces were contained and are currently facing a counteroffensive.
Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky claims that capturing Russian territory was key to his ‘victory plan’, which he intends to present to US President Joe Biden this week. He reportedly seeks security guarantees similar to those given to NATO members which Donald Trump would not be able to reverse if he is elected president in November.
The Russian military estimates Ukrainian casualties in the Kursk Region incursion at over 16,000. Kiev has also lost hundreds of tanks, armored vehicles and artillery units, as well as dozens of multiple launch rocket systems, including US-made HIMARS and MLRS systems, according to ministry statistics.