There are reports that Vladimir Putin is moving multiple rocket launchers to be used in his war against Ukraine. The 'Hurricane' launcher is apparently being transported thousands of miles across Siberia.
The Russian BM-27 Uragans are already being used Russian forces in the war, but the MirrorOnline reports that reinforcements are on the way. Sixteen rockets can be fired in 20 seconds, engaging targets up to 22 miles away.
The reported movement of more heavy weaponry comes as the US and Britain announce they are sending long-range weapons systems to help Ukraine defend itself from the Russian invaders.
The Russian train also includes other artillery including the Soviet-era 2S5 Giatsint-S, a self-propelled gun capable of firing nuclear projectiles with a range of up to 25 miles. The movement was spotted by the Ukrainian media.
The Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, claimed the more powerful Western weapons would not make any difference on the ground.
"There has been lots of talk about long-range hardware that Kyiv wants so badly,” he said. “But no Western systems can change the situation on the ground.”
The British-supplied M270 rocket systems come with munitions capable of striking targets at a distance of up to 50 miles. US supplied M142 HIMARS systems can hit targets to around 43 miles.
On Tuesday, (June 7) A Ukrainian MP said her country is “truly grateful” for the UK’s donation of long-range missiles but said more air support is needed to compete with Russia.
Inna Sovsun, the deputy leader of the Holos Party, told the PA news agency: “That will actually make a difference on the battlefield.
“If it did come earlier we would have saved so much life and so much less damage would have been done.
“It’s a good start and we truly appreciate it, everybody in Ukraine knows about that and we are truly grateful for that actually happening.
“You have to realise that right now what is happening there is a battle of artillery, the one who has more artillery will win, and Ukraine unfortunately doesn’t have as much artillery to fight against the Russian artillery.
“Everybody speaks the same phrase to the bravery of the Ukrainian army, and we agree with that very much, but bravery doesn’t save you from the Russian missiles and artillery.
“Now, this is starting to make a difference, again we hope it comes in bigger numbers and we hope it comes as soon as possible.”
The Ministry of Defence said the decision to provide the launchers was closely co-ordinated with the US government, which said it will supply high mobility artillery rocket systems to Ukraine.
When the US announced it will be sending the missiles, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to hit new targets.
“If they are delivered, we will draw appropriate conclusions from this and use our weapons, which we have enough of, to strike at those objects that we have not yet hit,” he said in an interview wiih state TV channel Russia-1, which was filmed on Friday.
Ms Sovsun however said that Mr Putin’s threats did not change the situation for Ukraine.
She said: “He is saying ‘I will attack you if you get the weapons from the West’, but he will attack us anyway.”
