Russia Destroys Ukrainian HIMARS Launchers whose Fire Killed 89 Soldiers

The U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launcher that Ukraine used to fire rockets at the temporary deployment of Russian troops near Makiivka in Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) has been destroyed, Russia’s defense ministry claimed today.

"The launcher of the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS), from which the Armed Forces of Ukraine fired at Makiivka, was destroyed by return fire," said Sergey Sevryukov, First Deputy Head of the Main Military-Political Directorate of the Russian Armed Forces.

Russian forces also annihilated four more Khaimars MLRS, four RM-70 Vampire MLRS combat vehicles and more than 800 rockets.

Related news: Ukraine Tracked Russian Troops’ Phones to Strike Makiivka Barracks

Sevryukov said more than 200 Ukrainian military and foreign mercenaries have been eliminated. "In the Maslovka area, a temporary deployment point of one of the Foreign Legion units was hit, where more than 130 foreign mercenaries were killed.”

The MoD has also revised the number of soldiers who died in the deadly Ukrainian strike from 63 to 89. It said four out of six high-explosive HIMARS rockets struck the town’s temporary deployment base — a school building that stood near an ammunition dump and weapons cache.  Remaining two rockets were shot down by Russian air defenses.