Ukraine on Wednesday confirmed off one in every of its new French-made self-propelled howitzers, firing in direction of Russian-controlled areas, as Kyiv urges Western international locations to supply extra navy {hardware}.
At a secret frontline location in japanese Ukraine, troopers from the fifty fifth brigade artillery unit drove the camouflaged truck-mounted Caesar right into a muddy discipline and fired off three rounds, accompanied by deafening booms and brilliant flashes.
A watching navy officer stated the goal was additionally a secret, whereas saying it could be throughout the vary of 38 kilometres (24 miles).
The heavy artillery system extremely prized for its accuracy is a part of the brand new arsenal of recent weaponry supplied to Ukraine by a number of international locations since Russia invaded on February 24.
President Emmanuel Macron pledged to ship a number of techniques in April, later telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that arms provides from Paris would “improve in depth”.
The firing session watched by AFP journalists got here as Macron on Wednesday referred to as for “new in-depth discussions” with Ukraine, with out confirming if he would journey this week to Kyiv as a number of media have reported.
Whereas the US and different allies have additionally supplied long-range howitzers, Kyiv has complained that it’s nonetheless outgunned and pleaded for extra heavy weapons.
Constructed by France’s partly state-owned arms maker Nexter, the Caesar is a 155mm howitzer mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis, able to firing shells at ranges of greater than 40 kilometres (25 miles).
– ‘Trendy warfare’ –
The commander of the system, who gave his title solely as Glib, stated it helped make Ukraine’s defences extra agile.
“This method is primarily very manoeuvrable and cellular,” he stated.
“In trendy warfare, this can be a essential issue.
“Our previous techniques are stationary, so to talk. That is truck-mounted artillery to place within the discipline,” he added.
The soldier stated the weapons will enable Ukrainian troops to “acquire quite a lot of time, in order that the enemy can’t assault us and fireplace again”.
Different related techniques, such because the US M777s that Ukraine has additionally obtained, should be towed.
Glib stated he underwent every week of coaching in France on tips on how to use the weapon, though there was “very restricted time” and “I needed to practice quick and keep in mind every thing rapidly”.
The officer stated he couldn’t disclose the place within the nation Kyiv was utilizing the French howitzers.
Russian-backed separatists have claimed this month that Kyiv is utilizing weaponry with 155-mm ammunition — customary for NATO artillery — to fireside on the massive metropolis of Donetsk, which they management, and different close by cities.
Glib denied such concentrating on.
“Safety of civilians is one in every of our priorities so we don’t fireplace on residential areas,” he stated.
