The Russian military continues to purposefully destroy weapons and ammunition supplied by NATO countries to the Kyiv regime. Today, the spokeman of Russian Ministry of Defense, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, at a briefing, announced the destruction of U.S.-made Harpoon anti-ship systems destroyed in the Odessa region.
According to him, Iskander high-precision ground-based missiles hit the launchers of the Harpoon anti-ship missile system (made in the USA). The complex was located in the village of Berezan in the Odesa region, which means it threatened the Russian ships of the Black Sea Fleet.
On July 8, it was reported that two sets of the Harpoon coastal missile system brought from the U.K. were destroyed in the Odessa region.
In June, the coastline of Ukraine was strengthened by American Harpoon anti-ship systems. It was stated by the Minister of Defense of the country Alexei Reznikov.
Harpoon deliveries were reported at the end of May. The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine then noted that the presence of missiles in Kyiv is the result of cooperation between several countries.
Harpoons threatened the Russian Black sea fleet and Kerch bridge
Russian naval ships operating in the northwestern part of the Black Sea were under threat from the coastal Harpoons located in Ukraine. The Russian Navy is armed with the X-35 missile, similar to the Harpoon, so it is familiar with the methods of dealing with such a low-flying subsonic target.
The longest range of the Harpoons was supplied by Denmark. The Danish Navy had two obsolete frigates of the Peder Skram type with Harpoon missiles installed on board. After the decommissioning of these ships, the Danes installed the four-container installations removed from them from anti-ship missiles on wheeled chassis. Then these units were removed from service.
In addition to Harpoon, the U.S. Congress also considered supplying Ukraine with Naval Strike Missile long-range anti-ship missiles developed by Kongsberg and Raytheon Technologies. The use of both complexes requires long training, and they are more difficult to maintain.
Former NATO commander-in-chief U.S. General Philip Breedlove said that Ukraine could deliver a “crushing blow” to Russia by attacking the bridge across the Kerch Strait connecting the Russian mainland with Crimea. To do this, Kyiv is ready to use the Harpoon missiles recently delivered to it.
“The Kerch Bridge is a legitimate target,” Breedlove said in an interview with The Times. According to him, the attack on the bridge was justified by Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
Harpoon is an American anti-ship cruise missile, which is considered one of the most common in the world. Developed by McDonnell-Douglas, and currently produced at the factories of the Boeing Corporation. This small-sized missile has a subsonic flight speed and a high-explosive fragmentation warhead weighing 225 kg. The maximum firing range depends on the carrier, missile modification and target designation and ranges from 90 to 220 km.