The White House is expected to announce as soon as Thursday another assistance package for Ukraine that will include more high-mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) and more ammunition for U.S.-provided shells, officials said. Americans.
The four HIMARS that the US announced in a previous aid package have arrived in Ukraine but have not yet been used.
In the battle in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainians have been defeated by the Russians. The United States sent shells for the first time and has since begun sending longer-range, more accurate HIMARS to improve Ukraine’s firepower.
In announcing the first shipment that included HIMARS, the Undersecretary of Policy Defense, Dr. Colin Kahl said: “HIMARS and the accompanying guided ammunition will allow Ukraine to direct any target it needs for this fight within Ukrainian territory.”
Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battery Battalion, 14th Field Artillery Regiment, 75th Field Artillery Brigade, fire live rounds at a system of high mobility artillery rockets (HIMARS) in support of Ivy Mass a Fort Carson, Colorado, June 8, 2022. Photo of the U.S. Army by SPC. Collin MacKown
Ukrainian leaders assured the US that the systems would not be used to attack Russia.
Ammunition shipped from the U.S. with the first HIMARS shipment has a range of up to 70 kilometers, more than twice the range of M777 howitzers, but less than the long-range advanced tactical missile systems (ATACMS) that can reach hundreds of miles away. .
“We don’t assess that they need systems that cover hundreds and hundreds of miles for the current fight, and that’s how we decided,” Kahl said earlier this month.
Because Ukrainian forces do not use HIMARS, the US organized a three-week training camp for Ukrainians outside Ukraine. The U.S. prepositioned the four HIMARS in Europe so that training could begin quickly, and the top 60 Ukrainians graduated from training last week.
The HIMARS are a priority for Ukraine, which is losing 100 troops a day. HIMARS provides more precisely guided guidance with extended reach so that Ukrainians can hit high-value Russian targets from a distance.
Russia is also suffering significant losses despite its numerical superiority. Russia’s Defense Ministry has not reported any casualties for months, but Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley said last week that Russia had lost 20 to 30 percent of its armored forces. and “has suffered a great deal of casualties.” “
The fight in the east has been described as a street battle that could last for months, if not years. The United States has provided more than $ 5.6 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded Ukraine. Congress recently approved a $ 40 billion security package for Ukraine that will allow for more aid shipments over the summer.
More by David Martin
David Martin is CBS News’ national security correspondent.