U.S., Estonia Send Artillery, Ammo to Ukraine

The U.S. Department of Defense announced a $700 million military aid to war-torn Ukraine that includes long-range High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and ammunition, Mi-17 helicopters and radars; while Estonia has supplied 155mm howitzers to the country.

As per a DoD release issued today, capabilities in this package include HIMARS systems, five counter-artillery radars, two air surveillance radars, 1,000 Javelins and 50 Command Launch Units, 6,000 anti-armor weapons, 15,000 155mm artillery rounds, four Mi-17 helicopters, 15 tactical vehicles, and spare parts and equipment.

The United States has now committed approximately $5.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of the Biden Administration, including approximately $4.6 billion since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked invasion on February 24. Since 2014, the United States has committed more than $7.3 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials have urged delivery of longer-range systems to counter Russia's heavy bombardments in the eastern Donbas region, where the fighting between the two warring countries is the fiercest.

Estonia’s defense ministry said it has supplied 155mm howitzers with ammo to Ukraine, besides support and training. The country’s military aid is now worth nearly $255 million.