FURTHER US SUPPORT TO UKRAINE

A DOD press release of August 8, 2022, announced another Presidential Drawdown of military equipment for Ukraine.  The Presidential Drawdown, the 18th of the Biden Administration, authorizes a withdrawal from US military stock and this is the largest and is valued at c$1 Bn.  This raises the amount of security assistance committed by the Biden Administration to $9.8 Bn so far.  Also, 0n August 8, 2022, the World Bank announced $4.5 Bn for social payments, healthcare services and pensions.  The cost will be met by the US.  Then, on August 9, 2022, the State Department announced they will provide $89 Mn for demining.

One significant system so far shipped to Ukraine is the M142 High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).  On August 8, 2022, Ukraine's Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznnikov said that the system had been used to destroy more than 50 Russian ammunition depots since deliveries started.  Ukrainian ground commanders have credited the system for stalling the Russian advance on Donbas.  As well as engaging direct threats, the system has been used to target other Russian logistics and to stop massing of infantry.

The HIMARS (see above) is a wheeled vehicle that fires GPS-guided missles from pre-loaded pods of 6 missiles for rapid re-load.  The speed and accuracy is causing the Russians problems in trying to engage the vehicles.  The DoD have said that they will provide a 'steady-stream" of missiles, though no more launch vehicles to add to the 16 provided.  The UK has provided three M270, a tracked version of the HIMARS carrying two pods that fire the same missiles.

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