The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has announced a $250 million security assistance package for Ukraine, marking its 45th tranche of aid since August 2021, aimed at bolstering Ukraine's defense against ongoing Russian aggression, an Aug. 29 DOD press release said.
"Today, we announced additional security assistance for Ukraine. We will continue to work with allies and partners to provide Ukraine with capabilities to meet its immediate battlefield needs and longer-term security assistance requirements," said Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Valued at up to $250 million, the aid package encompasses a wide range of military equipment, including air defense and artillery munitions, mine clearing equipment, medical vehicles and other essential materials designed to protect the Ukrainian people and counter Russian military action, the DOD press release said.
The package includes AIM-9M missiles for air defense, additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 155mm and 105mm artillery rounds and mine-clearing equipment, the DOD release said. Anti-armor systems including Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles, Javelin systems and Hydra-70 rockets are also part of the deal.
The package includes over three million rounds of small arms ammunition, armored medical treatment vehicles, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) ambulances, demolition munitions for obstacle clearing and various spare parts, maintenance and other field equipment, the release said.
The newly announced package will use funds previously authorized under the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) for Ukraine, the release said. The release reiterated the United States' commitment to work in conjunction with its allies and partners to meet Ukraine's immediate and long-term defense needs.
As of August 29, the United States has committed more than $43.7 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, according to a DOD fact sheet. Over $43 billion of this sum has been allocated since Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022.
