News Feed, France, Ukraine, Western aid, War, Caesar howitzer

France to send another 12 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, minister says

by Kateryna Denisova and The Kyiv Independent news desk October 4, 2024 11:41 AM 1 min read

Ukrainian servicemen fire with a French self-propelled 155 mm/52-calibre gun Caesar towards Russian positions at a front line in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donbas on June 15, 2022. (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images)

This audio is created with AI assistance

French-German defense company KNDS signed a deal on Oct. 3 for the supply of 12 Caesar howitzers financed by Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.

The news came days after KNDS announced it had opened an office in Kyiv to support Ukraine carry out the domestic maintenance and repair of land systems and produce artillery ammunition.

"Increasing the production capacity of our defense industry helps to support Ukraine," Lecornu said.

France has supplied Ukraine with dozens of Caesar howitzers, a self-propelled artillery system capable of hitting targets up to 55 kilometers (34 miles) away.

The company said it makes around 800 systems used by or contracted for the Ukrainian army, including the Caesar, the Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun tank, and the PzH 2000 armored howitzer.

KNDS is also planning to jointly manufacture NATO-standard 155 mm artillery ammunition and produce spare parts with the Ukrainian industry.

Authors: Kateryna Denisova, The Kyiv Independent news desk

Comments

News Feed

9:36 AM

(Updated: October 4, 2024 2:09 pm)

Oil depots on fire in Russia's Voronezh Oblast, Perm Krai.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, air defense downed six Ukrainian drones over Voronezh Oblast, six over Belgorod Oblast, one over Rostov Oblast and one over the Azov Sea.

12:51 PM

(Updated: October 4, 2024 1:17 pm)

Ukrainian forces withdraw from Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast.

"The higher command authorized a manoeuvre to withdraw units from Vuhledar in order to save personnel and military equipment and take up a position for further operations," Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces said on Oct. 2.

9:44 PM

(Updated: October 4, 2024 1:13 pm)

Middle East

‘A lot depends on Israel’s response’ – experts on what the Middle East escalation could mean for Ukraine

12:47 PM

Shooting down Russian targets over Ukraine by NATO countries will 'involve' US in war, Pentagon says.

"The president (Joe Biden) has made a commitment that the United States is not putting boots on the ground into Ukraine, but we are supporting Ukraine in their efforts to take back their sovereign territory," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said.

11:41 AM

France to send another 12 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, minister says.

French-German defense company KNDS signed a deal on Oct. 3 for the supply of 12 Caesar howitzers financed by Ukraine, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said.

10:30 AM

At least 177 Ukrainian POWs have died in Russian captivity, Kyiv says.

Most Ukrainian soldiers who were released had never been visited by the Red Cross representatives while in Russian captivity, Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said in July.

8:16 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 657,940 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,230 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

5:58 AM

Russian attacks on Sumy Oblast injure 8.

Russian forces attacked 14 communities in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast on Oct. 3, injuring eight people throughout the day, the regional administration reported.

3:00 AM

Three Shahed drones cross into Belarus while Lukashenko midair in helicopter.

Three Shahed drones flew into Belarusian airspace on Oct. 3 as Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko was traveling by helicopter over the country, according to the monitoring group Belaruski Hajun.

1:53 AM

Moldova uncovers $15 million Russian-backed plot to influence upcoming elections with bribes and disinformation.

Moldovan authorities have revealed a scheme led by a pro-Russian oligarch aimed at influencing upcoming elections by paying ordinary citizens to vote against closer ties with the West.

11:34 PM

Ukrainian Reuters cameraman injured in Kramatorsk attack regains consciousness after coma, begins speaking.

Reuters camera operator Ivan Lubysh-Kirdey, who was severely injured during a Russian strike on a hotel in Kramatorsk on Aug. 24, has regained consciousness and started speaking, according to his wife, Mariia Semenchenko.

10:06 PM

Ukrainian Legion launches first volunteer recruitment center in Poland.

During the first days of the recruitment center's opening in Lublin, 138 applications for interviews were received through the website and another 58 through consular offices, according to the Defense Ministry.

9:39 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine strikes Russian airfield in Voronezh Oblast with drones, SBU source says

9:24 PM

Slovak PM wants to 'restore relations' with Russia after war ends.

Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico said he plans to resume "economic and standard relations" with Russia after the end of Moscow's war against Ukraine, the RTVS broadcaster reported on Oct. 3.

8:42 PM

Ukraine receives over one-third of pledged shells from Czech initiative, ambassador says.

Ukraine has received more than one-third of the expected 500,000 rounds of 155-mm shells to be delivered under the Czech initiative by the end of the year, Ukraine's Ambassador to Czechia Vasyl Zvarych said in an interview with CTK news agency published on Oct. 3.

8:36 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Silent victims of sexual violence, Ukraine’s male POWs deserve real support

8:13 PM

Saudi Arabia's planned oil production hike threatens Russia's war economy, Politico reports.

Russia is greatly reliant on oil and gas exports, which have represented almost one-third of the country's total federal revenue in 2023 and 42% in 2022. Fossil fuel profits thus play a key role in funding Russia's expensive war machine in Ukraine.

8:12 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Why Russia's memory policy in occupied territories leaves some Ukrainian monuments standing

7:35 PM

Gazprom becomes Russia's least profitable company in 2023, Forbes reports.

In the meantime, Gazprom's net cash flow from operating activities increased by 5% to $242 billion in 2023.

7:05 PM

Ukraine denies Russian claims about attempted attack on Kursk nuclear plant.

Kursk Oblast Governor Alexei Smirnov claimed that a Ukrainian drone was neutralized by electronic warfare means near Kurchatov. Its fall allegedly caused explosions at an outbuilding not related to the nuclear plant.

6:07 PM

Russia attacking Kursk Oblast settlements with no Ukrainian troops present, Kyiv's military claims.

"The local population doesn't understand why they are being hit (by Russian forces) because the (Ukrainian) military is not even nearby," Vadym Mysnyk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian military's Operational Tactical Group Siversk, said.

5:56 PM

Part of Ukraine's Donetsk Oblast to lack water supply for 'indefinite period.'

"Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka, Kostiantynivka, and nearby settlements where roughly 260,000 people live will have problems with water supply due to heavy Russian attacks," Governor Vadym Filashkin said.

5:28 PM

War analysis

France to send another 12 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine, minister says

Most popular

'Temporary' occupation of Ukrainian territory most likely outcome of Russia's full-scale invasion, Czech president says

Iranian president says his country doesn't support Moscow as Tehran allegedly transfers ballistic missiles to Russia

Ukraine's 79th brigade releases video of 'massive' Russian attack being repelled near Kurakhove

Russian forces execute 16 Ukrainian POWs near Pokrovsk, prosecutors say

Ukrainian drones are burning Russia’s oil refineries, but not its economy