Article author:
Associated Press
Lolita C. Baldor And Ellen Knickmeyer
Washington (AP) — The Biden administration announces an additional $ 1 billion on Monday as new military aid to Ukraine And delivering rockets, ammunition and other weapons directly from the Department of Defense inventory for the Ukrainian army is the largest ever.
Analysts have warned that Russia is moving troops and equipment in the direction of southern port cities to stop Ukraine's counterattack, so a U.S. pledge to ship a large number of new weapons comes. increase.
This support includes additional rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), as well as thousands of shells, mortar systems, javelins, and other ammunition and equipment. Military commanders and other US officials have stated that HIMARS and the artillery system are important in Ukraine's ongoing battles to prevent Russia from gaining more positions.
With the latest announcement, the Biden administration has promised Ukraine total US security assistance of about $ 9 billion since the Russian invasion in late February. I did.
To date, the largest single security assistance package was announced on June 15th for $ 1 billion. However, that support included $ 350 million from the Presidential Drawdown Authority and $ 650 million under the Ukrainian Security Assistance Initiative.
Monday's package allows the United States to remove weapon systems and other equipment from the Pentagon shelves for faster delivery.
During the last four months of the war, Russia has concentrated on occupying the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. There, pro-Moscow separatists have ruled some territories as self-proclaimed republics for eight years. Russian troops have gradually advanced in the region, launching missile and rocket attacks to curb the movement of Ukrainian fighters elsewhere.
