A new video released by the Ukrainian military purportedly shows a Russian command vehicle being annihilated by a U.S.-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
In the 40-second video, shared to Telegram and YouTube by Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) on Wednesday, an armored vehicle is seen from overhead suddenly exploding while parked in a rural setting, leaving behind flames and smoke.
Although the weapon that caused the explosion is not seen firing in the video, SSO claims that it was a HIMARS, which the U.S. first delivered to Ukraine about four months after the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022.
Comments that were shared alongside the video say that the attack was carried out by the 73rd Marine Center of the SSO in southern Ukraine. The timing of the attack was unspecified.
Serhii Mykhalchuk/Global Images Ukraine
The target was identified as a Soviet-era KShM command post vehicle that had been spotted by Ukrainian drone operators, who then “adjusted the HIMARS fire” and destroyed it.
“As a result of a well-aimed blow, the enemy’s KSHM cannot be restored,” SSO said while sharing the video. “It is completely destroyed … Let’s go further!”
Newsweek reached out for comment to the Russian Ministry of Defense via email on Wednesday.
Ukraine frequently releases aerial drone footage of purportedly successful HIMARS strikes on Russian targets. Newsweek has not independently verified the authenticity of the videos or any claims about HIMARS attacks.
Last week, a Russian military blogger shared footage of what was said to be a Ukrainian HIMARS attack on a Russian awards ceremony, which may have killed dozens of Russian soldiers and a civilian performer.
The short video shows the performer, Russian actress Polina Menshikh, singing and playing guitar on stage while Russian troops watch in the audience. The lights quickly go out as an explosion turns heads and the video ends.
The attack may have been in response to a Russian attack on a Ukrainian awards ceremony, according to the BBC. Ukraine said that 19 of its troops were killed in that attack, which took place November 3.
On November 10, the press service for the Command of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces released a video showing what it claimed was a HIMARS taking out a Russian rocket system.
The video, likely recorded by a drone, shows a Russian Grad multiple launch rocket system engulfed in a massive explosion following the purported HIMARS attack. Its charred remains are shown briefly as the video ends.
While the U.S. has already sent at least 39 HIMARS to Ukraine, the Pentagon announced last week that it would be sending Kyiv one more system “and additional ammunition” as part of a new $100 million military aid package.
A report from Ukrainian media outlet Militarnyi speculated that the new HIMARS included a “unique modification” that would allow it to fire long-range weapons, potentially crossing one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s so-called “red lines.”
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.