The United States will send to Ukraine about $300 million in additional military assistance, including an enormous amount of artillery shells, howitzers, air-to-ground missiles and ammunition.
According to the Associated Press, the new package could include Hydra-70 missiles, which are non-guided missiles launched from aircraft.
Military assistance also includes an unknown number of high-mobility missile systems, mortars, rockets and Karl Gustav anti-tank rifles.
The Associated Press quoted officials spoke on condition of anonymity as saying that all weapons would be withdrawn from the Pentagon’s stockpile, so they could move quickly to the front lines.
According to the agency, the latest shipment comes as Ukrainian officials say they are preparing for a counter-attack, with Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov declaring: “Homeland will come back when we say yes, everything is ready”, and Ukrainian officials saying they are storing ammunition along potentially long supply lines.
The US in recent months has declined to say exactly how much materiel will be sent to Ukraine, but the latest package resembles other previous deliveries. Officials said there will also be trucks, trailers, spare parts, and other maintenance assistance.
This is the 37th package of Pentagon stocks to go to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022, and it brings the total US military aid to about $36 billion.
Officials have said the weapons and other equipment will help as Ukraine prepares to shift from what has been a long and bloody winter stalemate, focused on heavy fighting in Ukraines east, particularly around the town of Bakhmut in the Donetsk province.
The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said Russia continued to focus its efforts on offensive operations in eastern Ukraine, focusing on attacks around the areas of Lehmann, Bakhmut, Avdiyevka and Marinka.
Source: Qatar News Agency
