Russia Increases Attacks In Ukraine: Hits Foreign Army Mechanized Brigade, Destroys A Platoon Of US M777 Howitzers

JAKARTA - Russian troops destroyed a platoon of US M777 howitzers in the Kharkov Region in their special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov reported on Thursday.

"The following targets were destroyed in the battery counterattack: a battery of a multiple rocket launch system near Slavyansk, a platoon of several rocket launchers in the Nikolayevka area of the Donetsk People's Republic, as well as an artillery platoon of US-made M777 howitzers in firing positions in the Pervomaisky settlement of the Kharkov Region, " he explained, launching TASS on July 14.

In addition, the Russian Aerospace Forces attacked the deployment site of a battalion of the 14th brigade of the Ukrainian army with foreign mercenaries, eliminating 43 and wounding about 170 insurgents, Konashenkov continued.

"In the residential area of Chasov Yar in the Donetsk People's Republic, Russian precision weapons hit a temporary deployment site for a battalion of the 14th mechanized brigade manned by nationalists and foreign mercenaries. The attack killed 43 and injured about 170 militants," he said.

Meanwhile in the Malaya Tokmachka residential area of Zaporozhye region, Russian military aircraft delivered precision-missile strikes against the temporary deployment site of the 97th Battalion of the Ukrainian army's 60th Mechanized Brigade, the general added.

"The attack killed 30 and injured 37 other nationalists," Konashenkov said.

In all, the following targets have been destroyed since the start of special military operations: 249 aircraft, 137 helicopters, 1,534 unmanned aerial vehicles, 354 surface-to-air missile systems, 4,050 tanks and other combat armored vehicles, 744 multiple rocket launchers, 3,145 field artillery cannons and mortars and 4,292 special military motor vehicles," he concluded.

It is known that the US, Canadian and Australian militaries previously reported shipments of howitzers and M777 ammunition to Ukraine.

The howitzer has a high-precision digital fire control system (Towed Artillery Digitization) that uses GPS and drone data to direct the weapon at the target. The upgraded A2 version of this gun can fire Excalibur M982 guided shells with an extended flight range.