The Biden administration is preparing to send a new package of military aid to Ukraine, totaling around 125 million dollars, as the country continues to push forward with its surprise offensive into Russia. The fresh round of aid comes as Ukrainian forces are reported to have taken control of around 100 square kilometres of territory around Kursk, while Russian troops are making gains in the east around the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk, a critical logistics hub.
The latest package of aid includes air defence missiles, munitions for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), Javelins, and an array of other anti-armour missiles, counter-drone and counter-electronic warfare systems and equipment, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, vehicles, and other equipment. The weapons are being provided through presidential drawdown authority, which allows for the quick delivery of weapons from Pentagon stockpiles.
As Ukrainian forces continue to push forward, they are increasingly encroaching on Russian territory, with President Volodymyr Zelensky making his first visit to the border area, where his forces launched the offensive on August 6. Zelensky announced that Kyiv’s military had taken control of another Russian village and captured more prisoners of war.
The latest aid package brings the total amount of US security assistance to Ukraine to more than 55.7 billion dollars since Russia’s invasion in February 2022. The formal announcement of the aid is expected to be made on Friday, the eve of Ukraine’s Independence Day.
Joe Biden (Calvin Gates/SHutterstock)
The US is working to gain a better understanding of how Ukraine’s incursion into Russia fits into its broader war effort, particularly how it advances its strategic objectives on the battlefield. Pentagon officials have said that Ukraine wants to build a buffer zone along the border, but the administration still has more questions about how it furthers Ukraine’s war effort.
Ukraine’s military continues to push forward, with Russian soldiers now just 10 kilometres away from the city of Pokrovsk. The ongoing war has resulted in significant human suffering and displacement, and the US aid is aimed at supporting Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself against Russian aggression.
The situation on the ground remains fluid and complex, with both sides advancing and retreating in different areas, and the continued flooding of aid into Ukraine is likely to have a significant impact on the course of the war.
