The United States sends ammunition and counter-unmanned aerial systems to Ukraine

The U.S. Department of Defense has sent to Ukraine a new aid package that includes ammunition and counter-unmanned aerial systems.

This announcement is the Biden Administration’s sixty-fourth tranche of equipment to be provided from DoD inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

“Ahead of Ukrainian Independence Day, today the Department of Defense (DoD) announced additional security assistance to meet Ukraine’s critical security and defense needs,” the US said.

This Presidential Drawdown Authority package, which has an estimated value of $125 million, will provide Ukraine additional capabilities to meet its most urgent needs, including: air defense capabilities, munitions for rocket systems and artillery and anti-tank weapons.

The capabilities in this announcement include:

• Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (c-UAS) equipment and munitions;
• Ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS);
• 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition;
• Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided (TOW) missiles;
• Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems;
• High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) ambulances;
• Small arms ammunition;
• Medical equipment;
• Demolitions equipment and munitions;
• Spare parts, ancillary equipment, services, training, and transportation.

“As Ukraine prepares to celebrate its Independence Day on August 24 – more than two and a half years since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion – the United States and the international coalition of some 50 Allies and partners remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s brave defenders that continue to fight against Russian aggression,” the U.S. Department of Defense said.

Also, US President Joe Biden called Volodymyr Zelenskyi on the occasion of Ukraine’s Independence Day to confirm the allocation of a new military aid package and express his unwavering support for the people of Ukraine.

“The Ukrainian people are grateful to President Biden, his administration, Congress, and the entire American people for their unwavering support since the first days of the full-scale war. It enables us to endure and protect our statehood,” the President of Ukraine said.

Zelenskyi also noted the approval by the United States of another package of sanctions against Russia, and said that in the conversation he had emphasized the need to continue sanctions pressure on Russia.

“I welcomed the new US military aid package and emphasized that Ukraine urgently required the delivery of weapons from the announced packages, particularly additional air defense systems, to reliably protect our cities, communities, and critical infrastructure,” the President added.

As previously reported, the Biden administration is “open” to sending JASSM missiles to Ukraine.

Those issues include reviews of the transfer of sensitive technologies, and ensuring Ukraine’s jets can launch the 2,400-pound missile that carries a 1,000-pound warhead.