Ukrainian army tests Javelin advanced anti-tank missiles

KIEV, May 22 (Xinhua) -- The Ukrainian army on Tuesday carried out the first test of Javelin advanced anti-tank missiles, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The test was performed on the army's military facility in the presence of Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, the statement said.

"Today, the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, missile forces and artillery units, have increased significantly," Poroshenko was quoted as saying in the statement.

Javelin, the advanced fire-and-forget portable anti-tank missiles, were delivered to Ukraine from the United States last month.

The missiles can attack tanks from above and also have the ability to attack low-altitude helicopters and fortifications. They were first deployed by U.S. Army units in 1996.

In December 2017, the U.S. State Department announced the United States would supply advanced weapons to Ukraine to update the latter's defense capabilities.

Washington's move has angered Russia, which said it would lead to "new bloodshed" in Ukraine's conflict that has already claimed more than 10,000 lives. Enditem