The United States has agreed to sell Ukraine $138 million in desperately needed military equipment to repair and update its HAWK missile systems, while a bigger $60 billion aid package is blocked in Congress.
Ukraine’s air defenses, which were mostly comprised of Soviet-era planes and missile systems when Russia invaded in February 2022, have been greatly improved with US weapons and assistance since the beginning of the conflict.
Washington has provided Ukraine with a number of powerful air defense systems to combat Russian aircraft attacks, including US-made Patriot missiles and older weapons like as the HAWK.
“Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and Russian aerial capabilities,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Maintaining and sustaining the HAWK missile system will enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure.”
Ukraine’s air defenses, which were mostly comprised of Soviet-era planes and missile systems when Russia invaded in February 2022, have been greatly improved with US weapons and assistance since the beginning of the conflict.
Washington has provided Ukraine with a number of powerful air defense systems to combat Russian aircraft attacks, including US-made Patriot missiles and older weapons like as the HAWK.
“Ukraine has an urgent need to increase its capabilities to defend against Russian missile strikes and Russian aerial capabilities,” the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement on Tuesday.
“Maintaining and sustaining the HAWK missile system will enhance Ukraine’s ability to defend its people and protect critical national infrastructure.”
Moscow launched its heaviest aircraft attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in late March, two years after the war began.
The attacks cut power to over a million homes and shut down the country’s largest hydroelectric plant.
Moscow has intensified attacks on Chasiv Yar, aiming to consolidate recent territory gains.
Chasiv Yar is fewer than 30 kilometers (18 miles) from Kramatorsk, a key rail and logistics hub for the Ukrainian army.
Since Russia’s invasion, Washington has been Kyiv’s primary military backer.
However, with the latest aid package stalled by internal Republican party fighting over President Joe Biden’s immigration policy, Ukrainian forces have been forced to ration ammunition due to uncertainty about when the next cargo will arrive.
The $60 billion deal has already been approved by the Senate.