On Thursday, the United States announced a $600 million security aid package for Ukraine that contains demolition munitions and mine-clearing equipment as well as artillery ammunition.
The assistance will not instantly reach the battleground, as it drops under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), under which the US procures supplies from the defense industry or associates rather than pulling from US stocks.
The Pentagon said in a statement that the aid will “help Ukraine’s battlefield necessities” and shows unwavering US help for Ukraine.
The recent statement comes a day after the US vowed more than $1 billion in military and humanitarian support for Kyiv, including 120mm depleted uranium rounds for M1 Abrams tanks that could be supplied before the end of the year.
Depleted uranium munitions are controversial due to their connection with health issues such as cancer and birth defects in places where they were utilized in past battles, though they have not been definitively demonstrated to have generated such issues.
The density of depleted uranium helps rounds having it to smash through heavy armor, making it perfect for use in ammunition created to target tanks.
Russia has condemned the US determination to supply the depleted uranium munitions, but Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh supported the action on Thursday.
“We feel that these will be the most useful rounds to oppose Russian tanks and will support… the Ukrainians to protect” their territory, Singh told journalists.
US officials have spearheaded the push for global aid for Ukraine, quickly developing a coalition to support Kyiv after Russia invaded last year and corresponding aid from dozens of nations.
The US has pledged Ukraine more than $43 billion in military aid since Russia attacked Ukraine’s region in February 2022.
