Total U.S. military aid given to Ukraine comes to more than U.S. $ 29.3 billion with the latest addition
The United States (U.S.) has announced to provide an additional military aid to Ukraine worth U.S. $ 22 billion (£ 1.83 billion) which will include long-range missiles capable of doubling its attack range.
The package includes Ground-Launched Small-Diameter Bombs (GLSDB) which can hit targets 150 kms. (93 miles) away. However, the package won’t include the long sought-after ATACMS missile with a range in excess of 200 miles. The U.S. has constantly rebuffed Ukraine’s requests for that system over concerns they may be used to hit targets deep inside Russia.
The new aid brings the total amount of military aid given to Ukraine to more than U.S. $ 29.3 billion (£ 24.31 billion) since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Taking it to twitter, the President of Ukraine – Volodymyr Zelenskyy tweeted,
Thank you @POTUS for the new $2.2 billion defense aid package. It's important to strengthen the 🇺🇦 Defense Forces. Together with 🇺🇸 we stand against terror! The more long-range our weapons are and the more mobile our troops are the sooner Russia's brutal aggression will end.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 3, 2023
Zelenskyy has long urged the West to provide his forces with artillery capable of firing over greater distances. Previously, Ukraine’s longest-range weapon was the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) rocket system, which can hit targets at a range of up to 80 kms. (50 miles). Ukraine used the system to devastating effect during its counter-offensive in the South and East last year.
The GLSDB also gives Ukraine forces an ability to strike anywhere in the Russian-occupied Donbas, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. It also allows Ukraine to threaten Russian supply lines in the East.
Manufactured by Boeing and Saab, GLSDB is a gliding rocket with a small bomb attached, capable of striking a target within 1 metre of its position. It can be fired from a variety of weapons systems, including the HIMARS and M270 MLRS systems, which Ukraine is already using. The new package will also include additional HIMARS missiles and 250 Javelin anti-armour.
There have been reports that the Russian offensive in the Eastern Donbas region has gained momentum, with pro-Kremlin bloggers suggesting that the town of Bakhmut, long a focal point of Russian attacks, has been surrounded from 3 sides. However, Zelenskyy said his forces were entrenched around the town and would not surrender it to Russian assaults.
Zelenskyy had earlier said that a long-rumoured Russian spring offensive in the region had already begun. Russia has already mobilised some 500,000 troops for the renewed assault.
