Russia: 2 US HIMARS sytems have been destroyed | Video

The Russian Defence Ministry has claimed to have destroyed two U.S. HIMARS rocket launchers being used by Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv.

Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said the Russian Aerospace Forces had targeted the artillery systems on the site of a Ukrainian state-owned turbine production plant.

Konashenkov added 53 "nationalists and foreign mercenaries" were also killed in the strike, while a separate Russian attack killed "up to 200" Ukrainian servicemen and destroyed seven armored vehicles.

The spokesman also said a U.S.-supplied Harpoon anti-ship missile system had been knocked out in the Odesa region.

Moscow's claims could not be independently verified.

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