US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Tuesday that he had approved $100 million in military aid to Ukraine to help the country acquire more anti-armor systems.
“The atrocities committed by Russia’s forces in Bucha and across Ukraine have shocked and appalled the world,” Blinken said in a statement, praising Ukrainian forces for “bravely” defending their country.
According to him, this is the sixth drawdown of arms, equipment, and supplies for Ukraine from Pentagon inventories since August 2021.
The latest aid came in the wake of shocking photos and videos showing apparent brutal killings of civilians in Bucha, Ukraine, which was previously occupied by Russian forces. On March 30, Russia withdrew from the area.
The international community has slammed Russian President Vladimir Putin and Moscow after Ukraine accused Russian forces of committing “genocide” and “war crimes” in Bucha.
The allegations have been dismissed by Russia as a “fake news attack,” with the country claiming that the images of dead bodies and footage of slain civilians that have sparked international outrage were staged after Russian forces withdrew from the city.
“We will continue to provide security assistance in support of Ukraine’s defense, as well as economic assistance and humanitarian aid for communities devastated by Russia’s ruthless brutality,” Blinken said.
Since President Joe Biden took office, the United States has provided more than $2.4 billion in military aid to Ukraine, with $1.7 billion of that coming since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in late February. In addition, the US has enlisted the help of more than 30 countries to provide security assistance to Ukraine.
The war between Russia and Ukraine, which began on February 24, has sparked international outrage, with the European Union, the United States, and the United Kingdom, among others, imposing tough financial sanctions on Moscow.
According to UN estimates, at least 1,480 civilians have been killed and 2,195 injured in Ukraine, with the true figure expected to be much higher.
According to the UN refugee agency, more than 4.24 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with millions more internally displaced.