US authorizes $550 million additional assistance to Kiev. It includes rockets for the previously-sold HIMARS launchers.
US President Joe Biden ordered $550 million more in arms shipments to Ukraine. This was primarily to replenish ammunition for HIMARS rocket launchers, which Kiev claims are a “reliable source of energy.” “game-changer”In its conflict with Russia.
The latest round of weaponry for Ukraine was approved under Biden’s so-called “drawdown authority”John Kirby (US National Security Council) spoke out to journalists on Friday during a White House briefing. This new package of aid will provide ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System Launchers (HIMARS) and artillery shells measuring 155 millimeters.
Top Biden administration officials – including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan – spoke with their Ukrainian counterparts earlier on Friday to inform them of the latest aid approval, Kirby said.
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Biden authorized 17 assistance packages to Kiev since February’s Russian military offensive against Ukraine. This was under his drawdown authority. This approval covers more than $8Billion in weapon shipments. After previously providing $13.6 million, Congress authorized $40 billion of total new assistance to Ukraine.
Russian officials accuse Washington of supplying HIMARS rocket launchers to Ukraine and other weaponsry in order to prolong the conflict. The Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexey Reznikov claimed that US-made rocket launchers made a significant difference on the battlefield. However, Russian forces continue to gain ground in the Donbass.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced Wednesday that the Russian Aerospace Forces had destroyed more than 100 HIMARS launchers last week in an attack on an ammunition depot within the Dnepropetrovsk area. Moscow claimed previously that it had destroyed four of 16 HIMARS rockets sent by the US to Ukraine. According to reports, each rocket required for the system costs around $150,000.
