Threatening Strict Action If Ukraine Uses Long Range Weapons Against Russia, Moscow Envoy Highlights Howitzers, MLRS And HIMARS

Ilustrasi HIMARS. (Wikimedia Commons / Sgt Anthony Ortiz)

JAKARTA - Moscow has promised to immediately respond decisively if Kyiv uses long-range weapons systems against Russia, an envoy said Thursday.

Moscow will respond immediately if Russia is attacked with long-range weapons systems, Konstantin Gavrilov, head of the Russian Delegation for Military Security and Arms Control Negotiations in Vienna, Austria, told TV channel Rossiya-24.

"We particularly highlight the delivery (to Ukraine) of long-range howitzers and HIMARS MLRS that threaten not only Donbass, but also Russia," he said, citing TASS June 10.

"We have clearly established Russia's stance: if the Russian Federation is attacked with this remote attack system, a response to the decision-making center will take place immediately," he stressed.

The envoy further noted that the darknet is now filled with offers to sell the weapons that Ukraine has received from the US.

"I don't think this happened without the involvement of the Ukrainian military and political leadership. I don't rule anything out anymore," he added.

According to the diplomat, the Kyiv regime's promise that Ukraine will not use the HIMARS system to attack Russia, "is not worth a penny."

Last week, the United States Administration announced plans to deliver a new military aid package to Ukraine, which will include deliveries of HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) weapons and ammunition.

It said the first batch would include four rocket systems. US officials have previously said the strike range of the HIMARS wheeled light rocket launcher would not exceed 80 kilometers.

As Washington insists, Kyiv provides assurances that US rocket systems will not be used to strike targets on Russian soil.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed that Kyiv's assurances that it would not use this US-made weapons system against targets on Russian soil were meaningless and unreliable.