23 May 2018 11:33

Ukraine's testing of Javelin systems does not bother DPR/LPR

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - The self-proclaimed Donbas republics have been reserved about the trial run of U.S. Javelin anti-tank missile systems by Kyiv.

"The United States supplied those complexes but prohibited them from being used on and near the contact line. They can be testing [Javelin systems] in their territory as much as they want: the more shells they spend the better," acting Foreign Minister of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) Vladislav Deinego told Interfax.

The Council of Ministers of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) said that Donetsk did not fear even the potential breach of the ban on using Javelin complexes on the contact line by Kyiv.

"These are defensive systems above all, and we are not planning an offensive. So far it is Kyiv that has been demonstrating offensive plans. It is totally inefficient to use those complexes in an offensive, they are not easy to use on the field, and every shot requires long preparations, the complex's cooling with nitrogen, and other waste of time," a representative of the DPR Council of Ministers said.

The DPR said in early May that tensions on the Donbas contact line might escalate after the delivery of U.S. Javelin anti-tank missile complexes to Ukraine.