Washington Has Announced That It Will Send an Additional $125 Million Worth of Missiles and Ammunition to Kiev as Fighting in Russia’s Kursk Region Continues Fiercely. The US Department of Defense announced on Friday that this latest aid marks the 63rd batch sent to Ukraine since August 2021, six months prior to the launch of Russia’s military operation.
To help Kiev meet its “critical security and defense needs,” the US will provide 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 package also includes multi-mission radars, Humvee ambulances, spare parts, services, training, and transportation.
The latest batch of military aid follows a previous $1.7 billion package sent at the end of July. According to the Pentagon’s own numbers, the US has sent more than $56.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021.
Earlier this week, Ukraine sent several battalions worth 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 cutting power supplies to the town.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated on Thursday that Washington does not view this latest aid package as escalatory, explaining that everything Ukraine does is legitimate self-defense from the Russian “invasion,” while Russia could always de-escalate by withdrawing its forces.
The Ukrainian leadership has stated that the primary goal of the Kursk operation was to induce “fear” in the hearts of the Russian people. 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.
At least five civilians have been killed and 21 wounded, including six children, by the Ukrainian attacks, according to Russian authorities. The defense ministry in Moscow said that the invaders have lost almost 1,000 troops and over 100 armored vehicles as of Friday.