In June 2022, Russia looked like it had recovered from its failure at Kyiv and regained the initiative on the battlefield, driving the Ukrainian army back to Donbas. By summer’s end, Ukraine’s Kharkhiv and Kherson counter offensives had completely turned the tide, and one weapon prepared the way: American-made HIMARS.
The High Mobility Rocket Artillery System first came online in 2005 after being field tested in Iraq. It can carry a magazine of six guided rockets with ranges over 70 kilometers or one longer-range ATACMs missile. HIMARS’ precision has proven devastating in Ukraine, as it has routinely destroyed vital Russian infrastructure like command and control centers and supply depots, putting even more pressure on Russia’s already strained logistics and chain of command.
Russia has put such a high priority on destroying Ukraine’s HIMARS that it risked one of its top double agents in Germany, tasking him with finding the launchers. He fortunately failed in this mission.

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