The United States is among the more than 30 countries to send military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded at the end of February.
America’s $1.7 billion in military aid since the start of the invasion, and $2.4 billion since the beginning of the Biden administration, came in a series of packages.
The most recent package was announced Tuesday, including $100 million for the use of Javelin anti-armor systems. Last week, the administration approved a $300 million package that included laser-guided rocket systems, Switchblade tactical unmanned aerial systems, counter-unmanned aerial systems, and armored high-mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, among other things.
The military assistance has come in the form of more than 1,400 Singer anti-aircraft systems, 5,000 Javelin anti-aircraft systems, and 7,000 other anti-armor systems, according to a new fact sheet from the administration.
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“The Administration is working around the clock to fulfill Ukraine’s priority security assistance requests, delivering weapons from U.S. stocks when they are available, and facilitating the delivery of weapons by allies and partners when their systems better suit Ukraine’s needs,” it read.
The administration also provided “hundreds” of Switchblade tactical unmanned aerial systems, and some Ukrainian forces have come to the U.S. to learn how to use the technology, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin acknowledged during testimony on Capitol Hill in front of the House Armed Services Committee.
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby affirmed that “less than a dozen” Ukrainian forces have been trained to use the small, precise weapons that have the capability to target in a “kamikaze” fashion.
The U.S. has also provided more than 7,000 small arms, 45,000 rounds of ammunition, and 45,000 sets of body armor and helmets.
Other parts of American military aid include laser-guided rocket systems, Puma unmanned aerial systems, four counterartillery and counter-unmanned aerial system tracking radars, four countermortar radar systems, armored high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicles, night vision devices, thermal imagery systems and optics, tactical secure communications systems, commercial satellite imagery services, explosive ordnance disposal protective gear, and medical supplies.
“USAID is working in coordination with partners across U.S. government agencies to facilitate the delivery of life-saving equipment and supplies that could be deployed for civilian use in the event of Russian use of chemical and biological weapons against Ukraine,” a spokesperson for the agency told the Washington Examiner Thursday.
The official declined to elaborate as to what this “life-saving equipment” is and directed the outlet to the National Security Council, where a spokesperson told the Washington Examiner: “At the request of the Ukrainian Ministry of Health, the U.S. Government, like many others in the international community, is providing the Government of Ukraine with life-saving protective equipment and medical supplies that could be deployed in the event of Russian use of chemical and biological weapons against Ukraine. This assistance is being provided on a rolling basis, with some equipment and supplies already delivered to Ukrainian partners and more assistance being planned.”
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The NSC spokesperson did not respond to additional questions about what the “life-saving protective equipment” was, while a Department of Defense spokesperson previously directed reporters to USAID for additional information on this specific aid.
Ukrainian leaders have also asked the U.S. to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine, but the U.S. has refrained thus far, arguing that doing so would bring them directly into the conflict, which they’re desperately trying to avoid. The Biden administration also nixed a Polish deal that would have provided Ukrainians with jets as long as the U.S. would backfill the order and allow the aircraft to be transferred from a U.S. base overseas.
