The United States has announced that it will be providing Ukraine with approximately $300 million worth of additional military aid, including an array of artillery rounds, howitzers, air-to-ground rockets, and ammunition. This new shipment of military supplies comes ahead of a planned spring offensive by Ukrainian forces against Russian forces that have occupied parts of Ukraine since 2014. U.S. officials made the announcement on Tuesday but spoke on the condition of anonymity because the aid has not yet been formally announced.

The new package of military aid will consist of various weapons pulled from Pentagon stocks. This will enable the supplies to be sent quickly to the front lines, where Ukrainian troops are expected to engage in combat with Russian-backed forces. Among the weapons included in the package are unguided Hydra-70 rockets that can be fired from aircraft, as well as rockets for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), mortars, howitzer rounds, missiles, and Carl Gustaf anti-tank rifles.

“New shipment of weapons and ammunition will be the 37th package of Pentagon stocks”

This new shipment of weapons and ammunition will be the 37th package of Pentagon stocks that have been sent to Ukraine since the conflict began in February 2022. The total amount of U.S. military aid sent to Ukraine will now reach about $36 billion.

Ukrainian officials have been preparing for a counteroffensive against Russian-backed forces for some time now, and the new shipment of military supplies from the U.S. will prove essential in this effort. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov recently stated that the country is in the “home stretch” of its preparations, adding that the key to a successful assault will be the availability of weapons, well-trained soldiers, and sufficient supplies of ammunition, fuel, and protective equipment.

The ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea and began supporting separatist rebels in eastern Ukraine. The war has claimed over 13,000 lives and forced millions of people from their homes. The military aid sent by the U.S. is seen as critical in helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s armed forces has warned that Russia is continuing to concentrate its efforts on offensive operations in Ukraine’s industrial east, with a focus on attacks around the towns of Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka. The new shipment of weapons and supplies from the U.S. will provide Ukrainian troops with the necessary tools to counter these Russian-backed forces and, hopefully, turn the tide of the conflict in their favor.