Javelins, ScanEagle drones, ammunition for HIMARS: US to provide Ukraine with new military aid package worth USD 775 million

This was reported by Voice of America journalist Jeff Seldin and journalist Caitlin Dornbos.

The new aid package will include:

• munitions for HIMARS, which a Pentagon official said really changed the dynamics on the battlefield;

• 16 105-mm howitzers and 36 thousand artillery shells;

• 15 ScanEagle drones;

• mine-protected transport;

• HARM anti-radar missiles to "seek and destroy" Russian radar;

• 1000 Javelins;

• 1,000 TOW heavy anti-tank missiles to counter Russian armor. 

Also, the US plans to transfer the NASAMS air defense system to Ukraine within the next 2-3 months.

"It takes longer than the delivery of other weapons because they do not come from US stockpiles, but have to be manufactured and procured for Ukraine", Caitlin Dornbos wrote.

Jeff Seldin said the latest package brought total US security assistance to Ukraine to USD 10.6 billion since the start of the Biden administration.

According to a defense official, the US sees a complete lack of progress by the Russian Federation on the battlefield.

"You can see that the Russians are still paying a high price for Ukrainian attacks, especially with the HIMARS system ... but they are bearing those costs and cannot advance", the official said.

Earlier, Reuters, citing its sources, reported that the administration of President Joe Biden is preparing about USD 800 million in additional military aid to Ukraine.

According to the source, Biden will approve the aid, using his powers that allow the president to authorize the transfer of surplus weapons from the US stockpile. It was reported that the cost of the assistance package may change.

The White House declined to comment.