US Secretly Sends Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine

The US government has announced a $6 billion military aid package for Ukraine, which includes air defense munitions, artillery systems, and other equipment. The package is the largest security assistance commitment made by the US to date, according to Pentagon officials. The aid will include replenishments for previously supplied Patriot missile systems, as well as additional gear and munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) and High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS). The package also includes Switchblade and Puma drones, as well as counter-drone systems. This move comes in response to Ukraine's recent pleas for more air defenses from its Western allies.

The United States has secretly sent long-range missiles to Ukraine, which have been used for the first time last week to bomb a Russian military facility in Crimea. According to reports, President Joe Biden approved the delivery of the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) in February and included a significant number of them in an aid package in March. The new missiles give Ukraine nearly double the striking distance compared to the mid-range version received last October. The ATACMS were part of a $300 million military aid package, with a US official stating that Ukraine has now used them twice to fight off Russian invaders.