“We expect more armored vehicles, more weapons from our partners,” Oleksii Reznikov told the Wall Street Journal in an interview published Sunday. “War is grim… We need more. We need it fast.” The highly mobile artillery rocket systems – known as HIMARS – allowed Ukrainian troops to accurately target Russian forces from up to 50 miles away. Reznikov told the Journal that the weapons were used most effectively by Ukrainian forces in the fight for the city of Izyum, about 75 miles southeast of Kharkiv. The highly mobile artillery rocket systems allowed Ukrainian troops to accurately target Russian forces from up to 50 miles away. FADEL SENNA/AFP via Getty ImagesUkraine is specifically seeking to acquire the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of up to 186 miles.GIUSEPPE CACACE/AFP via Getty Images “In the Izyum case we were precise [in targeting] a Russian command center for aerial operations,” he said. “It was really accurate. Our partners saw it and said, “You passed the test.” Despite Ukraine’s success with the launchers, the defense minister said the Russians have built their own missile systems “which can travel 120 kilometers [75 miles]. “So we should have something a little more: 150 [kilometers, 93 miles]. We will get there,” he said. Ukraine’s defense minister described the US-supplied long-range missile systems as a “game changer” in Kiev’s fight against Russia’s brutal, months-long invasion.Sherbien Dacalanio/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images Damage to a house in the aftermath a Russian missile hitting an apartment building in Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region.AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty Ukraine is specifically seeking to acquire the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS), which has a range of up to 186 miles. Washington has expressed reluctance to send such weapons because of fears that Ukraine would strike targets inside Russia, prolonging and expanding the war. “It’s a problem,” Reznikov said. “Our anti-missile systems can fight ballistic missiles and cruise missiles — it’s not 100%, but we can get them. But we cannot close the sky against their MLRS [multiple launch rocket systems].” Reznikov’s comments came days after the Biden administration announced it would send another $400 million in military equipment to the Eastern European country, including four additional advanced missile systems. A local man clears the rubble from his house, which was destroyed in a Russian airstrike in a residential neighborhood in central Kharkiv. AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka Rescue workers put out the fire of a damaged car after a Russian attack on a residential neighborhood in central Kharkiv. AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka Washington has expressed reluctance to send long-range weapons because of fears that Ukraine will strike targets inside Russia, prolonging and expanding the war. Andrew Burton/Getty Images A senior defense official told The Associated Press on Friday that the four new systems will help Ukraine strike Russian command and control hubs, logistics capabilities and other systems. At least 100 Ukrainian soldiers have been trained to operate HIMARS since the first US delivery of eight systems late last month. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 and is seeking to gain full control of the eastern Donbass region after an initial push towards Kyiv was repulsed.
