KIEV: The MARS-II multiple rocket launchers supplied by German government have arrived in Ukraine, Defence Minister of Ukrain Mr.Oleksii Reznikov has announced on Twitter.
The 56-year-old politician tweeted, "Thank you to Germany and especially to my colleague Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht for these equipment.
The three missile launchers were delivered last week, as Lambrecht had previously announced. Furthermore, according to news agency DPA, Germany has previously sent Ukraine heavy weapons including Leopard anti-aircraft tanks and self-propelled howitzer 2000 artillery systems.
MARS, short for Medium Artillery Rocket System, is a weapon that can launch missiles with various effects, such as mine-ejecting missiles or guided missiles with GPS systems.
The launch batteries, which can carry 12 missiles for combat, are mounted atop tracked vehicles with top speeds of 50 km/h. In certain instances, the bullets' range exceeds 100 kilometres.
Along with the high mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) multiple rocket launchers from the US and the M270 MLRS from the UK, MARS II is the third long-range artillery weapon that the West has sent to Ukraine.
Ukraine has received four U.S-made artillery rocket systems, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said. Meanwhile, Moscow has condemned the West of dragging out the conflict by providing Ukraine more arms, and said the supply of longer-range weapons justifies Russia's attempts to strengthen control over more Ukrainian terrain for its own protection.
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