Biden Admin to Provide $1.1 Billion More in Military Aid for Ukraine

President Joe Biden signs into law the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on May 9, 2022. Nicholas Kamm/AFP via Getty Images

The Biden administration will provide approximately $1.1 billion in additional security assistance for Ukraine as part of its commitment to support the country’s long-term defense needs amid its war with Russia, the Department of Defense (DoD) announced on Sept. 28.

The latest package is being provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), which does not pull weapons directly from U.S. stockpiles but instead funds contracts to purchase weapons and equipment through the private sector.

It brings the total amount of American aid to Ukraine to over $16.2 billion since the Russian invasion began in February. Since Biden took office in January 2021, the United States has committed approximately $16.9 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. Prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, the United States had committed around $1.8 billion in weapons and military training to Ukraine.

Funding High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems

DOD said the assistance will fund 18 of the High-Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems or HIMARS, which have a range of about 40 miles and can strike faraway targets with greater accuracy. Officials say HIMARS have played a key role in Ukraine’s successes against Russia in recent weeks. The funding also covers ammunition for them.

A High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) during the military exercise Namejs 2022 on Sept. 26, 2022, in Skede, Latvia. Photo by Gints Ivuskans/AFP via Getty Images

Elsewhere, it will fund 150 Humvees and 150 tactical vehicles needed to tow heavy weapons, 40 trucks and 80 trailers used to transport heavy equipment; two radars for unmanned aerial systems; 20 multi-mission radars; counter-unmanned aerial systems; tactical secure communications systems, surveillance systems, and optics; explosive ordnance disposal equipment.

It will also provide the funding needed for body armor and other field equipment, training, maintenance, and sustainment.

In a statement announcing the latest round of funding, the pentagon said: “Together with our Allies and partners, our unified efforts will help Ukraine continue to be successful today while building the enduring strength of Ukraine’s forces to ensure the continued freedom and independence of the Ukrainian people.”

‘Sham’ Referendums

The announcement regarding the latest round of funding comes after referendums were held in four occupied regions of Ukraine: Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson, to decide if residents in those regions want to become part of Russia.

A man casts his ballot for a Russia-backed referendum at a polling station in Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast on Sept. 27, 2022. Stringer/AFP via Getty Images

Russia says the results of those referendums showed resounding support for joining Russia, with Luhansk voting 98.2 percent to join with Russia, Donetsk 99.23 percent in favor, the Kherson region voting 87.05 percent in favor, and the Zaporizhzhia region voting 93.1 percent to become part of Russia, according to results announced early Wednesday and reported by The Moscow Times.

However, U.S., Ukrainian, and NATO officials have described them as “sham” referendums and have responded by increasing their support for Ukraine with a new wave of sanctions aimed at Russian officials allegedly involved in staging the polls and increased funding for Ukraine.

“Sham referenda in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions of Ukraine have no legitimacy and will be a blatant violation of the UN Charter,” NATO officials said in a statement on Sept. 23.

“NATO Allies will not recognize their illegal and illegitimate annexation. These lands are Ukraine.  We call on all states to reject Russia’s blatant attempts at territorial conquest. ”