According to a statement by the US Department of Defense on Wednesday, the new security assistance package includes additional air defense capabilities, anti-tank weapons and other equipment to help Ukraine counter Russia's ongoing war of aggression.
Specifically, Washington will provide Kyiv with AIM-9M missiles for air defense; Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) equipment; additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); 155 mm and 105 mm artillery rounds; precision aerial munitions; and electronic warfare equipment, the statement said.
The package also contains Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles; AT-4 anti-armor systems; small arms and more than 16 million rounds of small arms ammunition; demolitions munitions for obstacle clearing; and spare parts, training munitions, maintenance, and other field equipment, according to the Pentagon.
The United States has committed more than USD 43.9 billion in security aid to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February last year, Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform reported.
"The United States remains committed to working with Allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs in the near term, and the Biden Administration calls on Congress to meet its commitment to the people of Ukraine by passing additional funding to ensure Ukraine continues to have what it needs to defend itself against Russia's brutal war of choice," the Pentagon said in its statement.
It added: "Security assistance for Ukraine is a smart investment in our national security. It helps to prevent a larger conflict in the region and deter potential aggression elsewhere, while strengthening our defense industrial base and creating highly skilled jobs for the American people."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Wednesday is day 595 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(gs)
Source: IAR, PAP, defense.gov, ukrinform.net
