Defense minister is offering Western manufacturers “a good chance” to test arms on Ukrainian battlefield inviting foreign arms manufacturers to use it as a polygon-like site for testing new weapons in battlefield conditions. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov on Tuesday openly offered Ukraine as a venue to test NATO weapons against Russia in an online conversation with the director of the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Center.

In an interview with Atlantic Council, a US-based think tank, Reznikov said that, in his opinion, Ukraine can already be considered as “essentially a testing ground.”

“Many weapons are now getting tested in the field, in the real conditions of the battle against the Russian army, which has plenty of the modern systems of its own,” he explained.

Reznikov said that Ukraine “is essentially a testing ground” for the advanced weaponry the US and its allies are pouring into the country. “Many weapons are now getting tested in the field in the real conditions of the battle against the Russian Army, which has plenty of modern systems of its own,” he said.

“I believe that we will receive long-range weapons from our partners sooner or later,” says Ukrainian Defense Minister @oleksiireznikov. 🇺🇦

He adds that giving #Ukraine Stinger missiles was once viewed as impossible.

Watch more from #ACFrontPage here: https://t.co/YCbrwH29Rn pic.twitter.com/Ngtmjq6ULE

— Atlantic Council (@AtlanticCouncil) July 19, 2022

The Ukrainian military chief made the offer in a fresh pitch for more Western arms. “We are interested in testing modern systems in the fight against the enemy and we are inviting arms manufacturers to test the new products here,” he said.

One weapons system that is getting its first use on the battlefield in Ukraine is the Polish Krab artillery system that was provided by Warsaw.

“So, I think for our partners in Poland, in the United States, France, or Germany, it’s a good chance to test the equipment. So, give us the tools. We will finish the job and you will have all the new information,” Reznikov said.

The Western response to the war in Ukraine has been a boon for US arms makers, who are making money sending weapons into the war zone, replenishing NATO stockpiles, and selling arms to European countries that have decided to boost military spending.

Kyiv has been asking for more advanced arms than it has been sending, including F-15 and F-16 fighter jets. Ukrainian pilots would need to be trained to fly the US aircraft, and the House version of the National Defense Authorization Act includes $100 million to go towards that training, although the massive spending bill has not yet been finalized.

Stressing that Ukraine is a trusted partner and needs all sorts of weapons, Reznikov revealed that the government is interested in building up the country’s “testing ground” potential.

“We are sharing all the information and experience with our partners. We are interested in testing modern systems in the fight against the enemy and we are inviting the arms manufacturers to test their new products here,” the defense minister said.

He added that his offer could provide “a good chance” for Poland, the US, France, Germany and other countries “to test [their] equipment.”

“Give us the tools, we will finish the job and you will have new information,” Reznikov said.

Extending his gratitude to the US and its allies for ongoing weapons supplies, the minister stressed that in order to successfully fight the Russian forces and especially to conduct a counterattack, Ukraine needs more arms, “fast and in sufficient quantities.”

He specified that before all else Kiev needs air and rocket defense systems, long-range weapons, anti-ship missiles, aviation, tanks and armored vehicles.

Reznikov also hailed US-provided High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and added that “for an effective counteroffensive” Ukraine would need at least 100 of those.

As of July 8, the US has provided 12 HIMARS systems to Ukraine. The White House revealed on Tuesday that a fresh package of military aid to be announced this week will include more of these weapons systems. 

Meanwhile, Moscow has consistently warned Western countries against providing Ukraine with weapons, saying that it would not prevent Russian forces from achieving all the goals of their military operation but would lead to prolongations of the conflict and to unnecessary casualties. Russia also made it clear that any foreign arms on Ukrainian territory would be considered legitimate targets.

Earlier this month, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the country’s forces had destroyed two HIMARS launchers in Donbass.

There are reports that some of the weapons sent by the West to Ukraine “are spreading throughout the Middle East region, and also end up on the black market.”

This Is What Defeat Looks Like: Corrupt Kiev Puppets Now Openly Sell Western-Supplied Weapons On Darknet