The Biden administration announced a new set of military aid for Ukraine with an estimated value of just below $3 billion on Wednesday, which coincided with Ukraine’s Independence Day and the six-month anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
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This package, which comes from the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, is meant to address long-term needs and represents “multi-year investments to build the enduring strength of Ukraine’s Armed Forces,” Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said in a statement.
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Six additional National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems with additional munitions are included in the aid.
NASAMS are ground-based air defense systems created by Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace and Raytheon that defend against unmanned aerial vehicles and cruise missiles.
“NASAMS provides air defenders with a tailorable, state-of-the-art defense system that can maximize their ability to identify, engage and destroy current and evolving enemy aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicle and emerging cruise missile threats,” according to a Raytheon product description.
The United States will also provide up to 245,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition, up to 65,000 rounds of 120 mm mortar ammunition, up to 24 counter-artillery radars, and funding for training, maintenance, and sustainment.
“The United States of America is committed to supporting the people of Ukraine as they continue the fight to defend their sovereignty. As part of that commitment, I am proud to announce our biggest tranche of security assistance to date: approximately $2.98 billion of weapons and equipment to be provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative,” President Joe Biden said in a statement Wednesday morning. “This will allow Ukraine to acquire air defense systems, artillery systems and munitions, counter-unmanned aerial systems, and radars to ensure it can continue to defend itself over the long term.”
Biden has agreed to send a total of more than $13.5 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since January 2021.
The U.S. and Ukrainian governments have warned that Russia could step up attacks on Wednesday due to the symbolic significance of the date as both Ukraine’s Independence Day and the half-year anniversary of the war.
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A security alert sent out by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv warned, “The Department of State has information that Russia is stepping up efforts to launch strikes against Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure and government facilities in the coming days. … The U.S. Embassy urges U.S. citizens to depart Ukraine now using privately available ground transportation options if it is safe to do so.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he believes Russia may be preparing something “particularly ugly,” and cities have preemptively canceled Independence Day celebrations.
