Ukrainian forces leverage HIMARS to strike key Russian defenses

Ukrainian units fighting in the Donetsk region are recording more successful attacks on Russian positions. This time, the invaders suffered losses thanks to the HIMARS system. We also explain what Russian equipment was hit.

Two videos confirming Russian losses have surfaced online. In one, Ukrainians attacked a parking lot where the Russians were hiding a TOR air defense system. The second video confirms the hit on the 1K148 "Jastreb-AV" radar reconnaissance system.

"Our scouts inspected the area near Donbas Arena in Donetsk using a drone and found a Russian Tor anti-aircraft missile system. It was being escorted to a place where it was supposed to be hidden, and then it was destroyed," the Ukrainian military reported.

Tor is a surface-to-air anti-aircraft system developed in 1986. In later years, the Russians introduced subsequent versions with modifications that increased the range and effectiveness of the radars. As a result, in the latest version, Tor can engage targets at a distance of up to 10 miles and at an altitude of up to 6 miles.

An almost identical attack occurred on the 1K148 "Jastreb-AV" radar reconnaissance system. It was also located using a drone, after which artillery fire was directed at the determined location.

This is another instance where Ukrainians effectively use the HIMARS artillery systems supplied by the United States. They are adapted for various types of ammunition.

Using standard MLRS 227 mm rockets, targets up to a maximum of about 50 miles away can be engaged. However, in the case of MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles, the range is significantly greater, reaching up to 186 miles. Thanks to inertial and satellite navigation, the precision of the hit is very high, and for this reason, HIMARS is often referred to as the "god of war."

An important feature of this American artillery is also its excellent mobility. The launchers are mounted on an armored truck chassis, which combined with a 390 HP engine allows the entire vehicle to move at speeds of up to 56 mph.