The Biden Administration has authorized a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance to go to Ukraine amounting to $325 million, according to the Department of Defense.
A release by the department on April 19 said that this security assistance includes ammunition for High Mobility Rocket Systems, artillery rounds, anti-armor capabilities and other aspects. This is the 36th drawdown of equipment from the Department of Defense inventories for Ukraine by the Biden Administration since 2021.
“Today, the United States announced critical new support for Ukraine as it continues to bravely defends its people, its territorial integrity and its independence against Russia's aggression. We stand #UnitedWithUkraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Twitter.
Blinken also announced the authorization on the State Department website, saying “Russia could end its war today. Until Russia does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
Earlier this month on April 12, the World Bank announced that $200 million in grant financing will go toward a project to repair Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, according to a release by World Bank. The Winterization and Energy Resources Restoration Project has a focus on facilitating quick emergency repairs to electricity transmission and heating infrastructure through the acquisition of equipment. These funds are through the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund. There is also additional funding of up to $300 million that would come from partners through grants and other contributions.
The emergency electrical equipment includes a variety of aspects like autotransformers, transmission transformers, switchgears, circuit breakers and relay protection devices among others. Heating infrastructure equipment includes mobile mini cogeneration units, mobile heat only boilers and more. The World Bank release said that during the fall and winter more than 50% of the power infrastructure of Ukraine was damaged. This led to nationwide power outages, resulting in food, water and heating shortages.
