The White House announced more support for Ukraine in the form of about $500 million in ammunition and equipment taken from current military stockpiles so as to reach the war zone more quickly. “U.S.-provided HIMARS (a type of rocket launcher), air defense interceptors, and artillery rounds that Ukraine is using to defend itself,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Much of the immediate aid going to Ukraine is anti-armor systems, small arms, heavy equipment transport vehicles, and maintenance support, with another $2 billion to come later in advanced missile-systems, anti-drone rockets and satellite terminals. Support to Ukraine from the U.S. totals about $35.1 billion since Russia invaded. The announcement comes just as the BBC reports Russia’s Wagner Mercenary group claims to have “in a legal sense” captured Bakhmut.
