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The US government has announced additional security assistance for Ukraine to combat new Russian territorial gains resulting from delayed international funding.
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The US Department of Defence has announced more than US$275 million in assistance as part of the fifth security assistance package that US President Joe Biden has authorised since signing the national security supplemental last month, including three Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) packages.
The new package, announced on 24 May, includes HIMARS ammunition, 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds, 60mm mortar rounds, tactical vehicles to recover equipment, and anti-armour mines.
It also includes tube-launched optically-tracked wire-guided missiles, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armour systems, precision aerial munitions, demolitions munitions, small arms and ammunition, grenades, helmets, body armour, spare parts, maintenance and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear protective equipment.
“This PDA package, which is part of our efforts to help Ukraine repel Russia’s assault near Kharkiv, has an estimated value of $275 million,” according to a statement published by the US Department of Defense.
“It will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent battlefield needs, such as additional precision strike rockets for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), artillery rounds, air-launched munitions, and anti-tank weapons.
“The United States will continue to work together with some 50 allies and partners to ensure Ukraine’s brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression.”
Ukraine armed forces have reportedly faced increasingly aggressive military pushes by Russian forces into the Kharkiv region, as Russia looks to capitalise on delayed assistance funding from the US and international allies to Ukraine and the country’s own internal recruitment issues earlier this year.
Earlier this year, Australia announced additional funding to be used to procure both lethal and non-lethal military equipment for the Ukrainian military administered by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence. The recent package brought Australia’s total support to $960 million, including $780 million for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The package is fundamental to helping Ukraine end the war “on its own terms”, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles announced at the time.
“Almost two years on from Russia’s illegal and immoral invasion, Australia continues to stand with Ukraine and our international partners in providing meaningful support to enable Ukraine [to] end this war on its own terms,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.
“This contribution to the International Fund for Ukraine will help Ukraine procure the equipment it needs as a priority, delivering real-time effects on the battlefield.”
The financial support continues Australia’s commitment to Ukraine, which includes Operation Kudu, where members of the Australian Defence Force support the training of Ukrainian personnel in the United Kingdom, and the deployment of a Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail to Germany.
