Ukraine Receives Harpoon Missile And Howitzer Cannon From Denmark-USA

ILLUSTRATION VIA UNSPLASH

JAKARTA - Ukraine has begun receiving Harpoon anti-ship missiles from Denmark and howitzer guns from the United States, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said. He said the shipment would strengthen Ukrainian forces against the Russian invasion.

"Our country's coastal defenses will not only be strengthened by Harpoon missiles, they will be used by Ukrainian trained teams," Reznikov wrote on his Facebook account.

According to him, the Harpoon missiles will be operated alongside Ukraine's Neptune missiles to defend the country's coastal areas, including the southern port of Odesa.

After launching its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Russia imposed a naval blockade on Ukrainian ports. As a result, exports of important grains were hampered.

Moscow also used its Black Sea fleet to carry out missile strikes against Ukraine, which has since begun receiving military aid from the West.

Reznikov said the supply of Harpoon missiles was the result of the cooperation of a number of countries. He called the shipment from Denmark "thanks to the participation of our British friends," he said.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Monday that Denmark would provide Ukraine with a Harpoon launcher and missiles.

According to the Russian Defense Minister, Ukraine has also received various heavy artillery such as the US-made M109 howitzer cannon, which allows the Ukrainian military to attack targets from a greater distance.

Last month a senior US defense official said the US military had begun training small numbers of Ukrainian troops using howitzer artillery and the drills were being held outside Ukraine.

Ukraine says it wants to secure shipments of the US-made M270 long-range multiple rocket launchers (MLRS) and use them to repel Russian troops in their east.

The Harpoon is an anti-ship missile that can operate in all weather and uses an active radar tracker and is able to fly right over the water to avoid intercepts. The missiles can be launched from ships, submarines, aircraft or coastal artillery.

Russia claims its troops are conducting special operations to reduce Ukraine's military capabilities and get rid of radical anti-Russian nationalists.

Ukraine and its allies have called Russia's claim a false pretext to attack Ukraine on February 24.