US prepares to send more HIMARS missiles to Ukraine

Robert Besser
07 Oct 2022, 03:29 GMT+10

The Biden administration's next military assistance for Ukraine will include an additional four HIMARS launchers, munitions, mines and mine-resistant vehicles
Expected to be announced as soon as this week, the package is the first to be provided to Kyiv since Russia recently declared the annexation of Ukrainian territory
The declared annexations followed Russia's orchestrated referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine, which were condemned by Western governments and Kyiv as breaches of international law

WASHINGTON D.C.: As part of a $625 million package, the Biden administration's next military assistance for Ukraine will include an additional four High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launchers, munitions, mines and mine-resistant vehicles.

Expected to be announced as soon as this week, the package is the first to be provided to Kyiv since Russia recently declared the annexation of Ukrainian territory, and since Ukraine achieved significant battlefield advances in mid-September.

The declared annexations followed Russia's orchestrated referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine, which were condemned by Western governments and Kyiv as breaches of international law.

By using the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the U.S. to transfer munitions from stocks quickly without Congressional approval, the weapons can be sent to Ukraine in the coming days.

Last week, the U.S. also announced a $1.1 billion arms package for Ukraine, which included 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System launcher systems, counter drone systems and radar systems.

But this package was funded by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), meaning that the government must purchase the weapons from industry, rather than taking them from existing U.S. weapons stocks.

So far, the U.S. has pledged 16 HIMARS launchers to Ukraine through presidential directives.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February, the U.S. has sent military assistance worth more than $16.8 billion.

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