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Originally published by ZeroHedge
In a Thursday CNN interview Ukrainian Defense Minister Andriy Zagorodnyuk described a stalemated battlefield situation with Russia, while also urging more Western arms to be urgently sent. “The war is in a situation where the Russians cannot move anywhere further because of the weapons the West provided us. We managed now to make them stop,” Zagorodnyuk said.
“But unfortunately at the same time we don’t have enough weapons for a proper, serious, fully-fledged counter-offensive,” he added. Yet a battlefield stalemate is where things can get dangerous fast, as is the case with the ongoing standoff at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. As we detailed earlier President Putin has warned his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron in a Friday phone call that Ukraine forces’ “systematic shelling” risks a “large-scale catastrophe” at the Zaporizhzhia plant, based on his words in the Kremlin call readout.
But the West still appears to be holding out hope that ramped up arms shipments, including increasingly heavier and longer-range weapons, can tip the scales against the superior and larger Russian forces. This is at least the logic in Washington, despite little evidence the unprecedented defense aid packages have significantly halted or dented the Russian offensive.
Politico reports Friday: “The U.S. will announce a new military aid package for Ukraine on Friday, two people familiar with the announcement told Politico, with another $800 million in weapons and ammunition.” This means the total so far in pledged defense packages (excluding other types of US aid) has just sailed north of $9 billion, according to the below figures.
“A third person said the next package will include Excalibur precision-guided munitions, which would further help Ukraine hit far-away Russian targets during the war’s artillery-heavy phase,” the report continues. The package is to include additional HIMARS, or the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, as well as Howitzers.
Russia is already warning that the possibility of a direct clash with NATO or the US is now higher than ever, also as on Thursday the defense ministry sent hypersonic missiles to be stationed in Kaliningrad, to be on ‘ready’ by three MiG fighter jets.
Tensions with Ukraine’s Western backers are also boiling because of recent explosions at Russian bases deep inside Crimea, leading to speculation of long-range attack capability by Ukraine.
Politico speaks to the potential symbolism and timing of the new impending aid: “The tranche comes just days before Ukraine’s independence day on Aug. 24, which one DoD official suggested could also bring a fresh American show of support,” it notes.
Source: Ukraine Support Tracker via the Kiel Institute for the World Economy
* * *
Below is a timeline of all publicly disclosed major weapons shipments or funding packages going back to February 24, compiled by the thinktank, Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft:
August 8
The Pentagon announced that it will send $1 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine via presidential drawdown, including:
- HIMARS ammunition (This is an acronym for High Mobility Artillery Rocket System. These mobile missile launchers can fire a wide range of munitions, including rocket artillery and short-range ballistic missiles.)
- Artillery ammunition
- Javelin missiles and other anti-armor weapons
August 1
The Pentagon announced an additional $550 million of security aid via presidential drawdown, including:
- HIMARS ammunition
- Artillery ammunition
July 22
The Pentagon announced that it will send $270 million of military aid to Ukraine, with $175 million authorized via presidential drawdown and the other $95 million coming via USAI funds. This included:
- Four additional HIMARS
- HIMARS ammunition
- Four Command Post vehicles (These can be used as a tactical operations center or an armored ambulance, among other things.)
- Tank gun ammunition
- Phoenix Ghost drones (These are a type of “loitering munition,” or a weapon that can wait in the air for extended periods of time before attacking a target. This was created by the United States for use in Ukraine.)
July 8
The Pentagon announced an additional $400 million of military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
- Four additional HIMARS
- HIMARS ammunition
- Artillery ammunition
July 1
The Pentagon announced that it will send $820 million of security aid, with $50 million authorized via presidential drawdown and the remaining $770 million coming via USAI funds. This included:
- HIMARS ammunition
- Two National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) (This system launches missiles to defend against various types of aircraft, including drones.)
- Artillery ammunition
June 23
The Pentagon announced an additional $450 million in military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
- Four HIMARS
- Artillery ammunition
- Grenade launchers
- Patrol boats
June 15
The Pentagon announced an additional $1 billion in lethal aid, with $350 million authorized via presidential drawdown and $650 million coming from USAI funds. This included:
- Howitzers (This is a popular long-range artillery weapon.)
- Artillery ammunition
- HIMARS ammunition
- Two Harpoon coastal defense systems (These launch missiles that fly just above the surface of the water to attack planes and ships.)
June 1
The Pentagon announced an additional $700 million in military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
- HIMARS ammunition
- Javelin missiles and other anti-armor weapons
- Artillery ammunition
- Four Mi-17 helicopters (These can be used for transport or combat.)
May 19
The Pentagon announced $100 million in lethal aid via presidential drawdown, including:
- Howitzers
- On the same day, Congress passed a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine, roughly half of which was earmarked for military assistance.
May 6
The Pentagon announced $150 million in military aid via presidential drawdown, including:
- Artillery ammunition
April 21
DoD announced $800 million in further aid via presidential drawdown, including:
- Howitzers
- Artillery ammunition
- Phoenix Ghost drones
April 13
The Pentagon announced that it will send an additional $800 million in military assistance via presidential drawdown, including:
- Howitzers
- Artillery ammunition
- Switchblade drones (This is another form of loitering munition.)
- Javelin missiles and other anti-armor weapons
- Armored personnel carriers
- 11 Mi-17 helicopters
- Various types of explosives
April 6
The Pentagon announced an addition $100 million in aid via presidential drawdown, including:
- Javelin anti-armor systems
April 1
DoD announced that it will send $300 million in lethal aid using USAI funds, including:
- Laser-guided rocket systems
- Switchblade drones
- Puma surveillance drones
- Anti-drone systems
- Armored vehicles
March 16
The Pentagon announced that it will send $800 million worth of military aid via presidential drawdown. The exact contents of this package are unclear, but it likely included Mi-17 helicopters, Javelin missiles, and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.
March 12
The White House announced that it will send $200 million in lethal aid via presidential drawdown, including:
- Javelin missiles
- Stinger missiles
March 10
Congress approved $13.6 billion in aid to Ukraine, roughly half of which was earmarked for military assistance.
February 25
The White House announced that it will send $350 million in military aid via presidential drawdown, including:
- Anti-armor weapons
- Small arms
Russian air defenses are pieces of junks.
Shut up with your nonsense you stupid Jew scumbag.
Did you saw this morning a single slow as a snaildrone just flew like it was a Picnic all the way to.sevastopol and bom the shit of the black fleet joke HQ? Man what a show, Pure comedy 🤣😂
WHAT AIRDFENSES DOING? Ahaha🥰😘🤡
What the tiny weeny toy drone with a minuscule charge that might have broken a roof tile or a window, GTFO here with your pathetic bullshit.
Its no toydrone at all. More like You are.
Eat shit u paid cocksucker. Russia is not afraid of child killers. The Thief of Kiev is becoming a multi billionaire while his country dies. pos scum
Max 100.000 in Ukraine are Jews.
Well they should move to Israhell and wait quietly to be nuked by Iran! Finally then a real holocaust worth celebrating!
What now Moscow? you got your buffer zone and halted the SMO to where you were now, reactionary/defensive stance will get you in a bad situation, PROCEED TO KIEV QUICK TO DECAPITATE THE SNAKE or simply launch a few Zirkon, Kinzhal, and Zarmat.. Watch how the west freeze their bullshit.
Yeah and thats why it took out thousands of planes in Korea and why NAto doesn’t dare to come and fight in ukraine, lol.
And you base that on what? Your statement has about as much proof as Biden has the trust of the American people.
He has. He was elected for a period and still is.
Jovan Pulitzer proved the election fraud. Go get another vaxx idiot.
Well, they can’t hit the HIMARS missiles or find the HIMARS launchers so something isn’t working very well.
I dont think we now. They might have hit some of them.
US has been planning to destroy Russia Ukraine EU and China ,even EU because EU is competitor of US trade.
Copy pest. If You were a rel target Montasant would take You.
me moron also—let’s meet Sawyer for more sodomy—-your trailer park in Kansas?
Poor Russians always losing since 1989
You’re one cringy Pro-Ukrop fan
me suck okra sperm —win; Russia humiliate you….you see lgbt therapist Nebraska
Does that all include “10% for the big guy” and his pervert junkie son?
The Russian do appear to be halted, in fact, SF didn’t report 1 thing about the Ukraine offensive yesterday…….it must be getting really bad for the Russians.
Lots of mercs & conscripts “demilitarized” in Nikolaev & Kharkiv over night.
Not even Russians believe in something lke that as a “thing”.
It could be like that. Too mayny might not buy the coins with one side anymore.
Collecting Ukrop corpses tends to slow down the Troops lol
15.83 billion dollars for Ukrainistan and 0$ for Yemen. That’s insane!
No its not.
yes because Biden hate Houthis and muslim
we waste money—amerikan stupid; Russia eliminate 20 Nebraska mercs yesterday—we buy 5 villas in Monaco for Zelensky
” Four Command Post vehicles (These can be used as a tactical operations center or an armored ambulance, among other things.) ”
Mmmmm, so the Dual Purpose armoured ambulances with NATO battlefield communication equipment for a “tactical operations center” ( senior officers command vehicle) will be, in reality, 99% used for the transport of NATO special forces, Ukie murder squads and senior Ukie officers, etc etc.
All of these war applications being camouflaged by large Red Crosses on the NATO/Ukie ” Tactical Operations Centres.”
Slava Rossiya
You just write anything moving is a target there. It show Your level well.
Child killers.
Shoot down this crap before enters nazi-uki piece of sh**ity land.
lgbt amerikan incompetent, stupid—-we humiliate the cowards, now Russia mocks the 3 legged hyenas
Russian lovers blur the whole picture well. So many other countries has send weapons, many other kinds of help and money.
Its also ignored its a help to take care of several millions of refugees.
4000 Ukra incommings to Denmark fx also has normal and proted jobs. We only have 30.000 refugees and the wats majority are women and children.
They all has free healtcare, all children in the correct age go to school and may of the adults. Its an EU obligation so many do that the best they can.
Free health care that causes blood clots
What they don’t tell people is that all this money that is “given” to Ukraine aren’t really gifts in the way we think of gifts. No, what we are dealing with here are loans, which must be payed back one way or another. Nobody really gives money away without expecting some return on the investment, for that is what these gifts are, investments. Unfortunately for the people of Ukraine, win or lose, these loans are loans from international loan sharks of the most despicable kind, and 50 years from now the Ukrainians may still be paying back the money they were “given” today from “the benevolent countries of the west?”
Unless, of course, the Russians under the noble Vladimir Putin is victorious, which he will be soon, for then he will just tell “the benevolent countries of the West” to go and f**k themselves. Problem solved.
Why arm this corrupt shithole country?
The G7 believes they will use up Russian weapons in Ukraine and then do what? Install Navalny in Russia? Do another Glasnost and Perestroika? Get the Russian forces to believe NATO is a defensive friendly group who only want to bomb a few countries including Russia?
What is the game plan here? Or is NATO an old decrepit group who ran out of ideas?
The longer the Ukrainian war runs, the more resolve the Russians will have. It is obvious the USA is not sending food and medicines to Ukraine. The USA is sending bombs and missiles being used to kill Russians. The USA is going to start a blood feud between Russia and the USA that would only end when Russia or North Korea nukes Washington DC
Yes, one of the cities to be nuked in the future is the Capitol in Washington DC.
Didn’t one Russian minster or high ranking general say that the first target for Russia, if things start to heat up in Ukraine, will be London? This was probably a month or so ago? At least the Russians know who the main enemy in Europe is. The English have meddled in Russian affairs for far too long. Perhaps its time to give them something to think about?
The plan is to exhaust the public support inside Russia due to the (ultimately) heavy human and infrastructure casualties. After about a decade in Afghanisan, the USSR left and then it was simply dissolved! In some years (much less than a decade), Putin will have left Kremlin. It’s wrong what you said: “the longer ithe war runs, the more resolve the Russians will have”. That’s a big mistake, everyone knows that a drawn out war exhausts a country. Especially a country like Russia that has a big demography problem – it’s not like Afghanistan where the Taliban had 6 kids each and were brainwashing them and sending them to suicide missions. Also, the balance will be different in some years: India will have set itself firmly in the West’s camp (QUAD, I2U2).
Oh, and something VERY important: contrary to China, Russia doesn’t have any control whatsoever over its infospace that is totally dominated by Western propaganda in Russian. There are milions of Russians (in Russia, plus the ones who left) who oppose the war.
The last part of your comment concerns me especially, when you state that “Russia doesn’t have any control whatsoever over its infospace that is totally dominated by Western propaganda in Russian.” This must be corrected, especially now during the Ukraine situation. Putin cannot afford to let the moronic part of the population join forces with the dangerous 5th column (Jews and their underlings) and start to undermine Putin and the government. They need to be dispersed before they become a major problem. Putin has repeatedly stated that Russia only can be defeated from within! Great comment by you, Helen.
One thing the world would agree upon, the best end result of Russia and Ukraine’s protracted war is to have US completely defeated.
This would serve world justice, fairness and for the benefits of mankind