Ukraine update: Pentagon promises more military aid | Current World | DW

Security forces carry away a protester

The essentials in brief:

  • Washington promises more military aid to Ukraine
  • The United States is planning new sanctions against Russia
  • After reciting a poem, three Russians have to go to prison

The US plans to supply Ukraine with another $1.1 billion worth of weapons. These include 18 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, ammunition and radar and drone defense systems, the Pentagon said. The equipment should be delivered in six to 24 months. The government in Washington says it wants to order new weapons instead of using army stocks. Along with that amount, the US has provided $16.2 billion worth of aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February.

New US sanctions against Russia

According to the United States, it is preparing new sanctions against Russia. The government in Moscow will have to pay a high price for the sham referendums in the occupied parts of Ukraine, said the coordinator of punitive measures at the State Department, James O’Brien. We are working with allies and partners to this end. The focus of the punitive measures continues to be on military supply chains and vulnerable areas in the Russian economy.

Detention after recitation of a poem against partial mobilization

In Russia, three young men have been held in custody for two months for reciting a poem at a protest against partial mobilization. It was “Kill me, militiaman!” by Vladimir Mayakovsky. The human rights organization OVD-Info announced that they were being investigated for “incitement to hatred with the threat of violence”. If charged and convicted, they face six years in prison.

Security forces carry away a protester

During protests against the partial mobilization, the police take rigorous action against demonstrators – here in Moscow

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the partial mobilization of 300,000 reservists for deployment in Ukraine. The decision had sparked protests across the country and Russian men fleeing to neighboring countries.

France sends relief supplies by ship

A ship with 1,000 tons of aid for Ukraine has left Marseille in southern France. There are numerous rescue vehicles, medication and medical equipment, food and mobile auxiliary bridges on board. They will be transported to the Romanian port city of Constanta, from where the goods will then be shipped overland to the Ukraine. French Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna spoke of the country’s largest aid operation for Ukraine since the Russian invasion in February.

se/mak (afp, rtr, dpa, ap)

This article will be continuously updated on the day of its publication. Reports from the combat zones cannot be independently verified.


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