Ukrainian soldiers pack up a drone used for aerial observation during an Operational Capabilities Concept evaluation at the International Peacekeeping and Security Centre in Yavoriv, Ukraine, Sept. 11, 2018. US Army National Guard photo by Army Spc. Amy Carle.
The US is expected to announce $3 billion in aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, Aug. 24, as the war-torn country celebrates its 31st anniversary of independence from Soviet rule. Russia’s war on Ukraine also hits the six-month mark Wednesday.
The package would be by far the largest yet sent to Ukraine. A $1 billion package was announced two weeks ago.
A Pentagon official said that details of the package would be released Wednesday, but the anticipated aid would likely be aimed at allowing the Ukrainian military to build long-term defensive capabilities. Previous US aid packages have included immediately needed combat arms, such as cannons, guns, and ammunition.
Members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stand at attention in formation during Ukraine’s Independence Day parade rehearsals in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, Aug. 22, 2021. US Army photo by Cpl. Christopher Brecht.
US officials told The Associated Press that the $3 billion in aid would fund contracts for drones and other weapons systems that likely wouldn’t hit the battlefield for at least a year.
The official told the AP the aid package was unlikely to change much before its expected announcement tomorrow.
Under President Joe Biden's administration, the US has committed approximately $10.6 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including weapons packages sent under Biden’s Presidential Drawdown Authority, which depletes existing Defense Department inventories to meet immediate needs for things like weapons and ammunition.
Members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stand at attention in formation during Ukraine’s Independence Day parade rehearsals in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Monday, Aug. 22, 2021. US Army photo by Cpl. Christopher Brecht.
The Pentagon announced a 19th drawdown Friday that included Scan Eagle surveillance drones and ammunition for High Mobility Aerial Rocket Systems, or HIMARS.
But this next mammoth round of aid will likely comprise weapons purchased new and sent directly to Ukraine with funding from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, or USAI, passed by Congress earlier in 2022.
Read Next: Kyiv Readies for Ukrainian Independence Day With Display of Ruined Russian Tanks
Jenna Biter is a staff writer at Coffee or Die Magazine. She has a master’s degree in national security and is a Russian language student. When she’s not writing, Jenna can be found reading classics, running, or learning new things, like the constellations in the night sky. Her husband is on active duty in the US military. Know a good story about national security or the military? Email Jenna.
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