Ukraine Needs More Than HIMARS to Blunt Russia’s Artillery Fire According Experts

Defense News ,Ukraine :- In the face of escalating Russian artillery fire, Ukrainian forces find themselves in need of more than just US-made HIMARS rockets, assert three prominent war experts. Michael Kofman and Dara Massicot from the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, along with Rob Lee from the Foreign Policy Research Institute, emphasized in a recent commentary that Kyiv must diversify its defense tactics as Moscow has effectively countered US-supplied weaponry.

The experts note that the invaders have strategically relocated high-value assets, such as ammunition depots, beyond the range of HIMARS rockets, diminishing the weapon's once-high efficacy. In response to these adjustments, the experts advocate for the extensive utilization of drones and other precision strike capabilities to effectively counter the increasing volume of Russian artillery fire.

Highlighting the urgency of the situation, the experts call on Ukraine's Western military supporters to collaboratively brainstorm and implement alternative strategies to thwart Russia's intensifying attacks. Reflecting on past challenges, they stress that Ukraine's inability to overcome Russia's defenses with a quantitative advantage in artillery ammunition during the previous summer necessitates the development of new advantages for future offensives.

A recent development in Ukraine's defense strategy includes the use of kamikaze drones striking deep into Russian territory, as reported by The Guardian. This innovative approach, known as "smart warfare," has targeted critical assets, such as oil and gas supply lines, including the Tuapse oil refinery in southern Russia.

According to insights from Illia Ponomarenko, a former defense reporter for the Kyiv Independent, targeting assets crucial to Russia's economy holds the potential to cripple its financial system and impact the military's budget. This proactive use of drones to strike deep into Russian territory signifies Ukraine's acknowledgment of Moscow's superior military strength and its determination to discover strategic advantages in the ongoing conflict.