US releases $270 million in military aid to Ukraine, including missile systems

The United States on Friday signed an additional $270 million in military aid to Ukraine, including four new Himars precision missile systems.

Russia has “launched deadly strikes across the country, hit malls and apartment buildings and killed innocent Ukrainian civilians,” White House spokesman John Kirby told reporters.

“In the face of these atrocities, the President made it clear that we will support the government of Ukraine and its people for as long as necessary,” he said.

The new aid will bring the number of M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars) sent to Ukraine to 20.

Kyiv has called the Himars, which can accurately hit targets within 80 kilometers (50 miles), a game-changer in the fight against Russia.

The Pentagon gave more details about the package, saying Ukraine will receive up to 580 Phoenix Ghosts — small and highly portable drones that explode on their targets.

The latest aid also includes 36,000 rounds of artillery ammunition and four Command Post Vehicles, armored posts that can act as battlefield operations centers.

More than half of the aid comes from a $40 billion package for Ukraine approved by Congress in May.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov earlier this week expressed hope that the United States would deploy up to 100 Himars units, saying they could turn the tide against Russian invaders.

A senior US defense official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity denied reports that Russia had successfully destroyed four Himars units.

Instead, the official said Russia appears to be adjusting to the reality of warfare against the Himars, including increasing use of camouflage.

The Himars have become “the most hunted creature in all of Ukraine” for Russia, the official said.

However, US President Joe Biden has drawn a line on sending longer-range missiles amid concerns that Ukraine could attack Russian territory and draw the United States more directly into the war.

Biden “believes that while a primary goal for the United States is to do what is necessary to support and defend Ukraine, another primary goal is to ensure that we do not get into a circumstance where we are on.” pave the way for a third world war,” his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, said at the Aspen Security Forum.

“But we have moved billions of dollars worth of equipment at lightning speed, which any reasonable historical analysis would say, and we will continue to do so,” Sullivan said.