The Wall Street Journal reports:

U.S.-supplied long-range artillery has helped stabilize the front line with Russia in the east of the country, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s armed forces said, as his troops geared up for a counteroffensive to retake territory in the south.

After weeks of grueling combat in eastern Ukraine that culminated in Russian forces claiming control over the Luhansk region, the arrival of U.S. mobile rocket launchers, known as Himars, last month has strengthened Kyiv’s hand.

“It is difficult, tense, but completely under control,” said Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny, who said he discussed the situation on the battlefield with Mark Milley, chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff. In a post on his Telegram channel Tuesday, Mr. Zaluzhny cited Himars as an “important factor contributing to our retention of defensive lines and positions.”

Along with other heavy weapons systems from North Atlantic Treaty Organization members in recent weeks, Himars have enabled Ukraine to strike Russian bases far behind the front lines, including ammunition and fuel depots.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu on Monday told a group of Russian troops to make Ukraine’s long-range weaponry a priority target, in a sign that Ukraine’s additional firepower is taking a toll on Moscow’s forces. While the new weapons systems are raising costs for Russia, Western officials say it is unclear whether they will enable Kyiv to alter the course of the conflict completely. [Continue reading…]