Ammunition valued at $125 million follows Ukraine’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Region
The Pentagon announced that Washington will provide Kiev with another $125 million in missiles and ammunition as intense fighting continues in Russia’s Kursk Region.
The US Department of Defense stated on Friday that this marks the 63rd tranche of aid furnished to Ukraine since August 2021 – six months prior to the commencement of Russia’s military operation.
To assist Kiev in addressing “critical security and defense needs,” the US will supply Stinger anti-aircraft missiles; ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS); rounds for 155mm and 105mm artillery; Javelin, AT-4 and TOW anti-tank missiles; small-arms ammunition; and demolitions ordnance, the Pentagon said in a statement.
The package also encompassed multi-mission radars, Humvee ambulances, spare parts, services, training and transportation.
Washington’s preceding batch of military aid, valued at $1.7 billion, was dispatched at . As per the Pentagon’s own figures, the US has provided over $56.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine since President Joe Biden assumed office in January 2021.
Earlier this week, Ukraine deployed several battalions of troops into Russia’s Kursk Region. Moscow has accused the invaders of indiscriminately targeting civilians with artillery, small arms and drone strikes. On Friday, Ukrainian drones targeted the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in Kurchatov, briefly disrupting power supplies to the town.
“We do not perceive this as escalatory in any way,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters on Thursday, when queried about US military aid to Kiev.
According to Singh, every action taken by Ukraine constitutes legitimate self-defense against the Russian “invasion,” while Russia has the means to de-escalate by withdrawing its forces.
The Ukrainian leadership has declared that the primary objective of the Kursk operation was to instill “fear” within the Russian populace. One of the units involved in the operation, according to Ukrainian media, is named ‘Nachtigall’ after the notorious Nazi auxiliary from WWII commanded by Roman Shukhevych.
Russian authorities have reported that at least five civilians have been killed and 21 wounded – including six children – by the Ukrainian attacks. The defense ministry in Moscow asserted that the invaders have sustained nearly 1,000 troop casualties and the loss of over 100 armored vehicles as of Friday.