Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Aug 2 (Reuters) – The Pentagon on Tuesday denied Russian claims that the country had destroyed six US-made HIMARS missile systems since the start of the conflict in Ukraine. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, according to Interfax, said on Tuesday that Russia destroyed HIMARS after Moscow deployed tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine on February 24. “We are aware of these latest allegations by Secretary Shoigu, and they are again patently false,” said Todd Breisel, the Pentagon’s acting spokesman. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register “What is happening, however, is that the Ukrainians are using with devastating precision and effectiveness every one of the fully realized precision missile systems that the US, our allies and partners have provided to defend against Russia’s brutal, criminal invasion Breasseale said. added. Russia regularly claims to have hit HIMARS, but has yet to prove it. Shoigu said Russia had also destroyed five Harpoon anti-ship missile systems and 33 M777 howitzers since Moscow deployed tens of thousands of troops to Ukraine. Reuters was unable to verify the accuracy of the reports. Ukrainian officials said they operate up to a dozen HIMARS systems, whose accuracy and long range have allowed Kyiv to reduce the advantage of Russian artillery. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Reporting by Reuters Additional reporting by Idrees Ali in Washington Editing by Andrew Heavens and Matthew Lewis Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
