The fresh assistance is intended to replenish the ammo for cutting-edge weaponry employed in Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
The White House has announced that the United States will give Ukraine an additional $725 million package of weaponry and other military equipment, joining a flurry of pledges of aid from European allies this week in response to Russia’s resumption of missile attacks on Kyiv and other targets.
The assistance comes “in the wake of Russia’s barbaric missile strikes on people across Ukraine,” according to a statement from US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and “the accumulating evidence of atrocities by Russia’s soldiers.”
The Department of Defence said in a separate statement that Washington’s most recent military package, which brings the total US military assistance to Ukraine to $18.3 billion since the start of Joe Biden’s administration, includes more ammunition for HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems).
20 HIMARS have already been provided by the US to Ukraine, and another 18 are scheduled to arrive over the next few years. The HIMARS system has proven to be a crucial weapon that has increased Ukraine’s capacity to attack ammunition storage facilities, bridges, and other crucial targets that hinder Russia’s ability to resupply soldiers.
Officials stated that as the war enters its eighth month, the latest US package is primarily intended to replenish thousands of rounds of ammunition for the weapons systems Ukraine has been successfully utilising in its counteroffensive against Russia.
“Hundreds of missiles have been fired by the Russians against important Ukrainian cities. The missiles have been shot down by Ukrainian forces with some success, but more air defence capabilities are required, according to the statement.
In a recent 24-hour period, Russia fired more than 80 missiles at targets in Ukraine, but Ukrainian air defences were able to intercept approximately half of them, a senior defence official told reporters at the Pentagon.
The official explained that the intercepts require a lot of ammo because it is possible that Ukrainians shot more than one round at each oncoming missile in order to discuss the US assessment of the conflict.
This week’s commitments from allies came to a close with the US declaration of aid.
The advanced NASAM (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) that the Pentagon intends to provide to Ukraine will have missiles, the United Kingdom announced last week. Additionally, the UK is supplying 18 howitzer artillery pieces and hundreds of drones.
The first of four IRIS-T air defence systems promised by Germany has been delivered; further artillery, anti-aircraft systems, and missiles promised by France; missiles promised by the Netherlands; and winter gear, drone cameras, and satellite communications planned for delivery by Canada.
The pledges come at a time when Russia has stepped up its attacks, using kamikaze drones to attack the Kyiv region and firing missiles at civilian targets elsewhere, including a hospital, a kindergarten, and other buildings in the town of Nikopol, which is located across the river from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
According to reports, Russia launched the attacks as retaliation for the bombing of the vital Kerch Bridge connecting it to the occupied Crimea. Russian President Vladimir Putin has been encouraged by Kremlin Warhawks to intensify the bombing campaign in order to punish Ukraine for the latest truck bomb attack on the bridge.
The incident has not been attributed to Ukraine.
The increase in Russian missile attacks also reflects an urgent attempt by Moscow to reestablish its footing in light of the powerful counteroffensive launched by Ukraine, which has reclaimed towns and other areas Russia had earlier in the conflict conquered.
