US sending secretly acquired Soviet air defense weapons to Ukraine
If Ukraine couldn't get a no-fly zone, they get air defense missiles from Washington... acquired secretly.
-
Polish Army 9K33 Osa, SA-8 Gecko mobile AA missile set , Warszaw, August 15, 2017
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is sending secretly acquired Soviet air defense equipment to Ukraine.
Citing US officials, the report said that the air defense equipment includes SA-8, which Washington acquired in order to examine Soviet technology at the time.
The US Department of Defense declined to comment on the matter.
However, the S-300 system is not one of the air defense systems being sent to Ukraine, according to the report.
Read more: Quagmire: Ukraine could be using Russian S-300 instead of the Patriot system
On Saturday, US president Joe Biden has vowed to assist Ukraine in acquiring air defense systems that hold a longer range than the Stinger missiles already present. However, finding the powerful anti-missile batteries the Ukrainians have been pleading for, through their President, is "proving easier said than done."
Washington has been cautious about engaging in direct conflict with Russia. While Zelensky made a brazen request to establish a no-fly zone, the US asserted that it is "not interested" as it would immediately mean war. Meanwhile, Kiev seeks military assistance against Russian artillery.
Read more: No no-fly zone? Send us aircraft, defense systems: Zelensky to US
CNN reported last Wednesday that the United States and its NATO allies are sending surface-to-air missile systems to Ukraine, including Soviet-era systems, such as the SA-8 and the SA-12 systems.
The systems have a higher engagement altitude than the Stinger shoulder-held missiles the US had sent Kiev.
The systems are "on the way" to Ukraine, the official added.
However, despite Washington revealing that it was delivering SA systems, a US representative told CNN now had S-300 defense systems in the country.
