US to give Ukraine additional $2.3 billion in military aid: Austin
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Last month, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced over $1.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine, focusing on its energy sector and humanitarian assistance.
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukraine's Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov in a meeting in September 2023. (X photo)
According to US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday, the US will send a fresh $2.3 billion package of military aid to Ukraine, including vital air defense and anti-tank weaponry.
In a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, Austin announced the US will "soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine,"
"This package... will provide more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons, and other critical munitions" from US inventories, Austin added.
Last month, US Vice President Kamala Harris announced over $1.5 billion in new aid for Ukraine, focusing on its energy sector and humanitarian assistance, more than two years after the onset of the war in Ukraine.
In late June, Bloomberg reported, citing sources familiar with the matter, that certain NATO member states are reluctant to commit to long-term military support for Ukraine.
On June 12, the Group of Seven (G7) leaders agreed to provide Ukraine with $50 billion by utilizing frozen Russian assets by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Russian forces continue to make significant gains on the battlefield. According to a statement from the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday, Ukraine lost up to 820 servicemen, eight vehicles, a US-made M777 howitzer, a Msta-B howitzer, two D-30 howitzers, two Rapira anti-tank guns, and a US-made AN/TPQ-36 counter-battery radar in fights with Tsentr and Yug groups in 24 hours.
Russian forces have taken control of the villages of Stepovaya Novosyolovka in the Kharkiv Region and Novopokrovskoe in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) "through active operations, units of the Tsentr [Central] Group of Forces liberated Novopokrovskoe in the DPR, thereby enhancing the tactical situation." Additionally, Russia's Zapad (West) Group of Forces secured control of Stepovaya Novosyolovka in the Kharkiv Region.
Ukraine grapples with manpower shortage
It is worth noting that the Ukrainian military, which has been grappling with acute shortages of soldiers, has lowered the mobilization age and intensified recruitment efforts.
As the war wears on, Ukrainians grapple with difficult choices and the harsh realities of conflict. Meanwhile, the West refuses to seek a peace process unfold, as Western leaders continue to deliver arms and munitions to Zelensky.
Ukraine is significantly behind its recent mobilization targets, as the initial plan aimed to mobilize up to 50,000 individuals every three months, sources told the German Welt newspaper on Monday,
According to Welt, Ukraine is required to mobilize 50,000 individuals every quarter and a total of 200,000 people by the end of the year. Additionally, since May, Ukraine has reportedly released approximately 2,800 prisoners to deploy them to the battlefield.
Since the outbreak of war with Russia in February 2022, Ukraine has been in dire need of replacing nearly half a million casualties, as estimated by Moscow. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu stated, on March 20, that Ukraine has lost 71,000 men and 11,000 units in 2024 alone.
To address this pressing issue, President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted amendments to conscription rules last month. These changes include lowering the draft age to 25, automating summons, and granting enlistment officers expanded powers while imposing various restrictions for draft dodgers. Additionally, the country's Foreign Ministry has suspended consular services for military-eligible Ukrainians abroad.
Under the new legislation, fines for violations of military registration rules will increase up to $520, and Ukrainian authorities have warned of blocking bank accounts and imposing penalties on the property of those attempting to evade military service.
In response to these stricter measures, there has been a notable increase in Ukrainian men attempting to flee the country. Border Service spokesperson Andrey Demchenko revealed that approximately 120-150 people are apprehended trying to leave Ukraine daily, with some tragically losing their lives in the attempt.
