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The US has committed half-a-billion-dollars in additional military support to Ukraine.
The US Department of Defense (DoD) has announced up to US$400 million (AU$584.7 million) in military aid would be sent to Ukraine via a presidential drawdown, supporting the country’s ongoing fight against Russia.
This latest package — the Biden administration’s 15th drawdown of equipment from DoD inventories since August 2021 — includes:
- four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and additional ammunition for HIMARS;
- three tactical vehicles to recover equipment;
- 155mm artillery ammunition;
- demolition munitions;
- counter-battery systems; and
- spare parts and other equipment.
Over the last three weeks, the United States has committed US$2.2 billion (AU$3.2 billion) in security assistance to Ukraine, and a total of US$8 billion (AU$11.7 billion) since President Joe Biden assumed office in January 2021.
“The United States continues to work with its allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its evolving battlefield requirements,” acting Pentagon press secretary Todd Breasseale said.
The US is among a host of nations, including Australia, to provide tangible military support to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in late February.
Earlier this month, the Commonwealth government committed $99.5 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine, including the delivery of 14 M113 armoured personnel carriers and 20 Thales-built Bushmaster protected mobility vehicles.
These were in addition to the vehicles pledged by former prime minister Scott Morrison ahead of the federal election — taking Australia’s total contribution of military vehicles since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine to 88 (60 Bushmasters and 28 M113 APCs).
The package also included other unspecified military equipment supplied by Australia’s defence industry, and a financial contribution to NATO’s Ukraine Comprehensive Assistance Package Trust Fund.
The value of Australia’s military assistance to Ukraine now totals approximately $388 million.
These latest announcements were made following Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to Kyiv, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as a gesture of support for the nation’s ongoing resistance.
[Related: Australia gifts more APCs, Bushmasters to Ukraine ]
