According to a statement by the US Department of Defense on Tuesday, the new security assistance package includes "additional air defense and artillery munitions, mine clearing equipment, medical vehicles, and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression on the battlefield and protect its people."
Specifically, Washington will provide Kyiv with AIM-9M missiles for air defense; additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds; mine clearing equipment; and Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles, the statement said.
The package also contains Javelin and other anti-armor systems and rockets; Hydra-70 rockets; over 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition; armored medical treatment vehicles and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) ambulances; demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and spare parts, maintenance, and other field equipment, according to the Pentagon.
Ukrainian leader Volodomyr Zelensky thanked US President Joe Biden for the new defence aid package.
"I am grateful to the American people, Congress and personally to President Joseph Biden for the new defense assistance package for Ukraine," Zelensky said in a tweet.
"Artillery, missiles, ammunition for HIMARS, demining equipment - that's what our warriors need," he added.
"Freedom needs protection, and this protection is growing strong," he also said.
The United States has committed more than USD 43 billion in security aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February last year, according to officials.
"The United States will continue to work with its Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements," the Pentagon said in its statement.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 553 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
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Source: PAP, defense.gov
