Ukraine parades new French Caesar howitzer
- The artillery system highly prized for its accuracy is part of the new arsenal of modern weaponry provided to Kyiv by multiple allies
- Ukraine says, however, that it is still outgunned and has pleaded for more heavy arms to fend off Russia’s invasion
Ukraine on Wednesday showed off one of its new French-made self-propelled howitzers, firing towards Russian-controlled areas, as Kyiv urges Western countries to provide more military hardware.
At a secret frontline location in eastern Ukraine, soldiers from the 55th brigade artillery unit drove the camouflaged truck-mounted Caesar into a muddy field and fired off three rounds, accompanied by deafening booms and bright flashes.
A watching military officer said the target was also a secret, while saying it would be within the range of 38km (24 miles).
The heavy artillery system highly prized for its accuracy is part of the new arsenal of modern weaponry provided to Ukraine by multiple countries since Russia invaded on February 24.
President Emmanuel Macron pledged to send several systems in April, later telling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that arms supplies from Paris would “increase in intensity”.
The firing session watched by Agence France-Presse journalists came as Macron on Wednesday called for “new in-depth discussions” with Ukraine, without confirming if he would travel this week to Kyiv as several media have reported.