ウクライナ、仏カエサル砲でロシア軍攻撃　実戦使用の様子公開

【ウクライナ東部ＡＦＰ＝時事】ウクライナ軍は２８日、ＡＦＰ記者団を同国東部の前線に案内し、フランスから供与されたカエサル１５５ミリ自走榴弾（りゅうだん）砲が実戦使用される様子を公開した。（写真はウクライナ東部で、ロシア軍の陣地に向けてカエサル１５５ミリ自走榴弾（りゅうだん）砲を撃つウクライナ兵）
　カエサル砲の公開は、セバスチャン・ルコルニュ仏国防相のキーウ訪問に合わせたもの。２月にロシアがウクライナに侵攻して以降、ルコルニュ氏が同国を訪問するのは初めて。
　カエサル砲は精度の高さで知られる。フランスは、ウクライナへの軍事支援として、対戦車・対空ミサイルや装甲車に加え、カエサル砲１８両を提供しており、今後さらに６～１２両を供与する予定だ。
　ウクライナ兵の一人は、カエサル砲を「速くて、効率が良く、正確で、とても使いやすい武器だ」と評価し、追加供与を望んでいると語った。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2022/12/29-15:58）

Ukrainian soldiers quickly check the coordinates of their target, then load a Caesar howitzer.
Two rounds are fired off against a Russian artillery position, located 29 kilometres (18 miles) away.
Lieutenant Mykola, who operates the French import, says it took 53 seconds to reach the target.
And since the Caesar is a self-propelled gun, it can move off its firing position to avoid being targetted and destroyed by enemy counter-fire.
As it quickly repositions, Mykola receives information collected by the drones.
Minus seven Russians. Position destroyed, says the Ukrainian soldier.
On Wednesday, the Ukranian army took AFP journalists on a tour in eastern Ukraine to see one of its French cannons in action.
It was timed to coincide with the visit to Kyiv of French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu, his first since the start of the Russian offensive in February.
- Pledge of French support -
The 155mm howitzer mounted on a six-wheeled truck chassis is highly prized for its accuracy. It is part of the arsenal of modern weaponry provided to Ukraine by multiple countries since Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded on February 24.
Some critics have said France is not doing enough to support Kyiv.
According to a study by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, France ranks 10th in terms of military support for Ukraine, behind the United States, Britain, Poland and Germany.
Paris, which organised an international conference in mid-December in support of Ukraine, has repeatedly said it stands ready to provide more humanitarian and military support to Kyiv.
Since the outbreak of the war, in addition to anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles and armoured vehicles, France has provided 18 Caesar cannons to the Kyiv army, and six to twelve more are expected.
It would be great to have more, says another Ukrainian soldier, Andrei. It's a fast, efficient, accurate and very easy to use weapon.
The Caesars can fire six rounds per minute and are capable of firing shells at ranges of more than 40 kilometres (25 miles).
Mykola refused to give the exact number of French cannons operating in the region. About ten, he says.
Asked whether any of the weapons sustained any damage, he said that only one of the howitzers had been slightly damaged and had since been quickly repaired.
In April, both Mykola and Andrei attended a week-long training in France to learn how to operate the Caesars.