USA is preparing a new military assistance package for Ukraine, which will be announced this Friday, confirmed two senior officials of Joe Biden’s Government. The shipment would contain high mobility artillery rocket systems -better known as HIMARS– and several high demand artillery rounds 105 mm and 150 mm.
These pieces will arrive just over a month after the US Congress approved the new aid budget on April 23, which includes a total of USD 61 billion for the war in Ukraine, which is going through a critical moment in Kharkovalong with USD 13 billion for Israel and about USD 8 billion for Taiwan.
Since mid-May, in an attempt to take advantage of the shortage of weapons of Volodimir Zelensky’s Army, Russian troops increased their offensives on this front, with the almost daily siege of some cities and the taking of towns. However, as the days went by, the Ukrainian side managed to reverse this situation to a large extent, although it continues to face constant fighting.
On the last day, the regional governor of Kharkiv, Oleh Syniehubov, reported the impact of enemy missiles S-300which caused the death of at least seven people and injured another 20. The president regretted this event, which he described as “extremely cruel,” and took the opportunity to demand that the allies send more air defense systemswhich would allow us to neutralize these threats that enter its territory but which would not be included in the US package soon to be announced.
“Russian terrorists are taking advantage of the fact that Ukraine still lacks sufficient air defense protection and the reliable ability to destroy terrorist launchers exactly where they are located: close to our borders,” he noted.
In this context, the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, acknowledged that kyiv is going through “a difficult time” and highlighted that weapons will arrive in the country “week after week” to guarantee the proper supply of the troops. In a similar tone, the day before, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted that “every hesitation and every delay in supporting Ukraine costs the lives of innocent people, and every hesitation in supporting Ukraine puts “Our own safety is equally at risk.”
However, the head of the Army, Oleksandr Sirski, highlighted the actions of his officers with the means at their disposal and celebrated that in just ten days they managed to stop the enemy advance. “After the first minor achievements in its offensive actions in the Kharkiv oblast, the enemy has completely stagnated in the urban fighting of Vovchansk and suffers very heavy personnel losses in assault units”he reported.
He added that the opposing side continues to mobilize reservists to all their fronts in this area to reinforce their positions and try to continue taking small cities but they are not having success in doing so. “In the direction of Liptsi, the enemy also suffers significant casualties, has switched to active defense and is carrying out mine clearance operations while opening fire to inflict damage on the positions of our troops,” he explained.
(With information from AP, AFP and EFE)
