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WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 (AP) — The U.S. is said to be providing Ukraine with an additional $275 million in military aid, including vast quantities of munitions and high-tech systems that could be used to detect and counter drones in its ongoing war with Russia. machine. US officials.
The aid total is lower than most recent U.S. aid packages, and many military officials and experts predict fewer winter raids. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Russia appeared to be slowing down its military activity in order to regroup and launch a new offensive when the weather warms.
The latest aid package includes 80,000 rounds of howitzer ammunition and an undisclosed amount of HIMARS ammunition for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, officials said. It also includes counter-drone and air defense systems, as well as more Humvees, generators and other combat equipment. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the aid package ahead of its expected public release on Friday.
Drone strikes on both sides have been increasing, making the detection of unmanned explosives critical to the Ukrainian military. Russia bought hundreds of attack drones from Iran over the summer, and officials said this week that Moscow was looking to do more of the same.
Russian forces have increasingly targeted Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants, leaving thousands without heat and electricity as winter sets in.
Additionally, earlier this week, several recent drone strikes hit two strategic Russian air bases more than 500 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. Moscow has pinned the blame on Ukraine, which has not claimed responsibility.
Including the latest aid, the United States has now pledged more than $19.3 billion in weapons and other equipment to Ukraine since the Russian attack on Feb. 24. The aid would be provided through the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the Pentagon to draw weapons from its own stockpile and quickly ship them to Ukraine. (Associated Press)
(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from a Syndicated News feed, the content body may not have been modified or edited by LatestLY staff)
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