General Zaluzhnyi, the chief of the general staff of the Ukrainian army, shared real-life images of the M777 artillery on the battlefield and thanked the US for its support.
“Special greetings and thanks from our gunners to the American people for these M777 howitzers,” the Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valerii Zaluzhnyi wrote on his account on May 13. Personal Facebook, with a series of photos of this country’s soldiers firing 155 mm M777 cannons on the battlefield.
He did not disclose the location of these cannons. This is the first time the Ukrainian military has confirmed that it is using the US M777 cannon in real combat.
“My soldiers understand the value of these cannons. We would like to confirm that this is a highly accurate and very effective weapon,” added General Zaluzhnyi. “Together to victory”.
The image of the M777 cannon firing was announced by Chief of the General Staff Valerii Zaluzhnyi on May 13. Image: Facebook/Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
The M777 cannon has a digital fire control system similar to that of self-propelled guns. It is capable of firing conventional ammunition with a maximum range of 24.7 km, or high-precision M982 Excalibur ammunition, reaching a maximum range of about 40 km.
The administration of US President Joe Biden on April 13 announced the delivery of 18 M777 heavy artillery guns and about 40,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine, after assessing the hostilities in the Eastern European country had entered a new phase and Kiev needed weapons. gas has a stronger attack power.
More than a week later, the Pentagon announced that Ukraine would receive 72 more M777 howitzers and 144,000 rounds and 72 artillery towing vehicles. The weapons are part of the new Biden administration’s defense aid package for Kiev.
On May 4, an unnamed Pentagon official revealed that the delivery of 81 M777 cannons was completed in an order of 90 guns for Ukraine. About five days later, defense sources said that the US had almost deployed all of its M777 artillery pieces in its commitment to the Ukrainian battlefield.
Pictures of Ukrainian artillery using American M777 cannons on the battlefield were published on May 13. Image: Facebook Valerii Zaluzhnyi.
President Biden in early May announced a security assistance package for Ukraine worth about 150 million USD including artillery shells, radar and some military equipment. However, he warned that the current source of support was running out and called on allies and partners to contribute “to keep the flow of weapons to Ukraine uninterrupted”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the latest support package brings the total value of weapons sent by the US government to Ukraine since Russia launched the military campaign to $ 3.8 billion, including heavy artillery. FIM-92 Stinger anti-aircraft fire and unmanned aerial vehicle. The US government is pressing Congress to pass a $33 billion aid for Ukraine over a five-month period, including $20 billion in military aid.
The US President on May 9 also signed into law the Ukraine Democratic Defense Lend – Lease Act 2022 to speed up the transfer of weapons to Ukraine. This act will expand Western support of artillery, anti-aircraft missiles, anti-tank weapons and other heavy weapons to the Ukrainian army.
Name (According to Ukrayinska Pravda)
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