The defense secretary on Sunday also addressed the recent nuclear threats made by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukraine using HIMARS provided by the United States “changed dynamics” in its war against Russia, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said during an interview on CNN on Sunday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin faced international rebuke when he launched his “special military operation” on Ukraine on February 24. Many world leaders condemned the invasion, which they viewed as lacking justification and going against international norms. The U.S., an ally of Ukraine, has provided Kyiv with humanitarian and military aid to bolster the country’s defense efforts.
Included in the U.S. military aid were M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), a rocket launcher system with a longer range than other rockets in Ukraine’s artillery. HIMARS have been credited with allowing the Eastern European country to better defend its territory against Russia and even launch its own counteroffensive efforts to reclaim formerly occupied territory near Kharkiv and Kherson.
Austin, a key figure overseeing U.S. assistance to Ukraine, praised Kyiv for using HIMARS the “right way” to boost its defense against Moscow.
