6 hours ago
By Yaroslav Luchiv BBC News
photo provided, Getty Images
Ukrainian artillery stockpiles may be dangerously low, according to US media reports. The Ukrainian military has not commented on this. Image shows Ukrainian soldiers firing artillery shells
The United States announced on the 3rd that it would provide additional military aid of $400 million (about 54 billion yen) to Ukraine. The aim is to replenish artillery shells and ammunition, which are said to have been depleted due to the fierce fighting with Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Brinken said the additional support would include rocket artillery from the US Hymers high-mobility rocket artillery system, which is “used very effectively by the Ukraine”, as well as howitzers.
“This military aid package will also include the ‘Hymars’ supplied by the United States, which Ukraine uses very effectively to defend itself, as well as additional ammunition for its howitzers,” he said. Brinken in a statement on the day.
It will also provide “ammunition for the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, bridging tanks, ammunition and demolition equipment, and other maintenance and training support,” he added.
The Hymers proved to be very effective in the Ukrainian military’s blitzkrieg counterattack operation late last year. The operation returned almost all of Kharkiv Oblast to Ukrainian control.
The surge of Ukrainian forces and the liberation of the southern city of Kherson were the biggest front-line changes since Russian troops withdrew from the capital Kyiv in April last year.
“The United States will also continue to reach out to the world to help Ukraine,” he said in a statement to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had earlier stressed that artillery and shells were needed to “stop Russia”.
The US will also provide mobile equipment to build tactical bridges in case of future Ukrainian attacks.
Many Ukrainian military officials and experts have suggested that the operation could begin in the coming weeks.
bullets ‘dangerously short’?
A year after Russia launched its open-ended invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian artillery stocks could be dangerously low, US media reported.
Ukraine and Russia have been engaged in a fierce battle of attrition in recent months, with tens of thousands of artillery shells likely to be fired each day.
The Ukrainian military has not publicly commented on reports of ammunition shortages.
However, President Zelensky said on the 2nd that “the most important thing we need is artillery,” and that the Ukrainian government needs “a lot of artillery shells” and fighter jets to “deport” Russian troops from Ukraine.
Military aid to Ukraine was expected to dominate the agenda at a meeting between US President Joe Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday in Washington.
Mr Biden thanked Mr Scholz for his “significant” support for Ukraine.
Scholz said it was important to stress that support would continue “as long as it is needed”.
Many of Ukraine’s western allies have promised tanks and artillery. But Ukraine says it needs to deliver weapons more quickly to stop the Russian advance.
What is the situation on the Eastern Front?
Meanwhile, Moscow on Monday continued a month-long offensive against Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, claiming that Russian mercenaries had “virtually surrounded” the city.
The latest reports from the Ukrainian army say that, although it continues its efforts to surround Bakhmut, “a number of attacks have been repelled” in the last 24 hours.
Kupyansk in the eastern province of Kharkiv, which was liberated from the Russian government in September last year, was ordered to evacuate some areas on the 2nd.
Local authorities said families with children and “people with limited mobility” should leave the city because of “constant” shooting by Russian police.
