Crew members of the 85 mm divisional gun D-44 of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army\u2019s Blind Fury Unit fire a gun at Russian positions in the Vovchansk area on May 16, 2024 in Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine.\u00a0Oleksandr Magula\/Suspilne Ukraine\/JSC “UA:PBC”\/Global Images Ukraine\/Getty Images<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United States is sending $275 million in military assistance to Ukraine as part of \u201cefforts to help Ukraine repel Russia\u2019s assault near Kharkiv,\u201d Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Friday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The top US diplomat said the new tranche of assistance \u201ccontains urgently needed capabilities\u201d for Ukrainian troops as they fight to hold back Russia\u2019s advances<\/a> toward the key northeastern city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe will move this new assistance as quickly as possible so the Ukrainian military can use it to defend their territory and protect the Ukrainian people,\u201d Blinken said in a statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a post on X Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude for the new aid package, saying it \u201cis critical right now, as the enemy intensifies attacks along the frontline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToday in Kharkiv, I witnessed firsthand the importance of strengthening our warriors in order to protect our people, our cities, and our communities. Freedom is the value both of our nations hold dear. To protect it, we require continued strong support from the United States and other allies,\u201d Zelensky wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Russian forces have advanced toward Kharkiv, Ukraine\u2019s second-largest city, after launching a surprise cross-border assault in mid-May. Seven people were killed<\/a> in a barrage of Russian missile strikes Thursday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ukrainian forces have been forced to contend with weapons shortfalls as they fight to hold off the advances. Journalists in the town\u00a0of Lyptsi<\/a>, around 20 miles north of Kharkiv city, saw troops using aging and inadequate weaponry, in an attempt to repel highly equipped Russian units bolstered by drones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The latest US military assistance package \u2013 the fifth since the passage of a multi-billion dollar national security funding package \u2013 includes artillery rounds, Javelin and TOW missiles, ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), demolitions munitions, anti-armor mines, tactical vehicles, and body armor, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear protective equipment, Blinken said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n