Since the beginning of the conflict in late February, almost $8 billion in security aid has been delivered.
The White House has stated that the United States would provide an extra $270 million in security aid to Ukraine, which will include more medium-range rocket systems and tactical drones.
The statement on Friday takes the entire amount of US security assistance promised to Ukraine by the administration of US President Joe Biden to $8.2 billion, which is being funded by $40 billion in economic and security aid for Ukraine that was authorized by Congress in May.
The new package includes four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, and will allow Kyiv to acquire up to 580 Phoenix Ghost drones, both crucial weapon systems that have allowed the Ukrainians to remain in the fight despite Russian artillery superiority, according to John Kirby, the coordinator of strategic communications for the National Security Council of the White House. The most recent support also includes around 36,000 rounds of artillery ammunition and more HIMARS ammo.
Kirby said, “The president has made it plain that we will continue to back the Ukrainian government and its people for as long as it takes.”
The discovery occurred when Ukrainian troops employed rocket launchers and tactical drones produced in the United States to destroy scores of Russian targets and fend off Russia’s bigger and better-equipped forces.
As a result of the United States and other Western allies arming Ukrainian forces with precise weapons, Russia is able to fire far more ammo, but has suffered enormous losses of personnel and equipment. Wednesday, CIA Director William Burns estimated that around 15,000 Russian soldiers had been killed. This death toll would be similar to the Soviet Union’s military casualties throughout its almost decade-long war in Afghanistan in the 1980s.
Long has the Ukraine requested more HIMARS launchers, which shoot medium-range rockets and can be rapidly relocated before Russia can attack them. Wednesday, Ukrainian troops apparently deployed a HIMARS to strike a vital bridge in the southern province of Russia-occupied Kherson.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that his troops might inflict significant harm on Russia as Kyiv plans to launch an offensive and reclaim territory using Western weaponry.
The United States is also arming Ukraine with more GMLRS guided missiles. The Pentagon continues to rule out the possibility of giving Ukraine longer-range missiles that may be used to launch attacks deep inside Russian territory. This is an indication that the United States is attempting to mitigate the danger of Russia initiating a wider conflict.
In an effort to level the playing field, Ukraine has made extensive use of Western-supplied technology to protect its eastern borders. [File: Efrem Lukatsky/AP]
The United States has already delivered 12 HIMARS-mounted trucks to Ukraine. Additionally, the United Kingdom has contributed three launchers of a different kind equipped with GMLRS missiles.
KEYNOTES:
Each side in the conflict has made extensive use of drones. Previously, the United States had promised to deploy 121 Phoenix Ghosts to Ukraine. The capabilities of these drones, which were created by the US Air Force and manufactured by Aevex Aerospace, a pioneer in “full-spectrum airborne intelligence systems”, have not been fully revealed by Pentagon authorities. The drones are equipped with onboard cameras and are capable of attacking targets.
The United States announced earlier this month that it believes Russia intends to acquire hundreds of drones from Iran.
The White House has revealed satellite footage indicating that Russian officials visited Iran twice in June or July to display weapon-capable drones the country is seeking to obtain.
