The U.S. Department of Defense on March 1 announced that it will provide Ukraine with a $125 million military aid package that includes training, equipment and advisory efforts.
The money and equipment provided by the U.S. is part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative that is designated to help Ukraine “preserve the country’s territorial integrity, secure its borders, and improve interoperability with NATO.”
Initially, the U.S. Congress approved over $250 million in military assistance to Ukraine. More recently, the Department of Defense said that Ukraine will receive $125 million, followed by another $150 million once it demonstrates reforms.
“The remaining $150 million appropriated by Congress will be provided (to Ukraine) when the Defense Department, in coordination with the Department of State, certifies that Ukraine has made sufficient progress on key defense reforms this year, as required by the National Defense Authorization Act,” the Pentagon’s official statement reads.
According to the U.S., Ukraine should “strengthen civilian control of the military, promote transparency and accountability in defense industry and procurement, and modernize its defense sector in other key areas in line with NATO principles and standards.”
According to the Pentagon, the package will also include two armed patrol boats “to enhance Ukraine’s capacity to patrol and defend its territorial waters.”
This will bring the total number of Mark VI patrol boats to be provided to Ukraine by the U.S. to eight. The first boats are set to be shipped to Ukraine in late 2022. They are designed to patrol rivers and coastal waters.
Since the start of 2021, Russia’s attacks on Ukraine have intensified. On Feb. 28, a soldier was killed near the front line village of Pyshchevyk in Donetsk Oblast, about 117 kilometers south of Donetsk.
Russian-backed militants violated the ongoing ceasefire seven times on Feb. 28, firing on Ukrainian forces with 120-mm mortars, grenade launchers, large-caliber machine guns and sniper rifles. The Ukrainian soldier was killed in the attack, according to the Joint Forces Operation.
Twelve Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since the beginning of the year.
Since the start of Russia’s war against Ukraine in 2014, over 13,000 people have been killed. Russia has occupied Crimea and eastern parts of Donbas for nearly seven years.
