US to provide Ukraine with $1 bn in additional weapons

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
8 Aug 2022 22:36
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This is the eighteenth drawdown of equipment from the US department of defense inventories for Ukraine since August 2021.

US to provide Ukraine with $1 bn in Additional Security Aid

The US State Department issued a statement on Monday written by the secretary of state, Anthony Blinken, announcing that he is authorizing the US's largest single drawdown of arms and equipment to support Ukraine.

"This eighteenth drawdown since August 2021 of up to $1 billion includes arms, munitions, and equipment from U.S. Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine’s self-defense," the statement said.

Hence, this package will bring total US security assistance to Ukraine to approximately $9.8 billion since the beginning of this Administration.

The package is expected to contain more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 75,000 rounds of 155mm artillery ammunition, 20 120mm mortar systems, 20,000 rounds of 120mm mortar ammunition, and munitions for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS).

At least 1,000 Javelin and hundreds of AT4 anti-armor systems, 50 armored medical treatment vehicles, C-4 explosives, demolition munitions, and demolition equipment will also be included, the Pentagon added.

So far, the US has sent 16 HIMARS to Ukraine and pledged to send two NASAMS on July 1.

The new massive arms transfer comes on the heels of a Pentagon decision to allow US military personnel to treat wounded Ukrainian troops at a large US-run hospital in western Germany.