WASHINGTON — The U.S. has announced an additional $125 million in military aid for Ukraine, aimed at bolstering its defense against Russia. This new package includes critical air defense systems, radars to detect and counter enemy artillery, and anti-tank weapons, the White House revealed on Friday.
This announcement coincides with Ukraine’s largest ground offensive on Russian territory since the conflict began in February 2022. The operation in the Kursk region has led Moscow to declare an emergency and deploy additional forces.
National security spokesman John Kirby affirmed that the use of U.S.-provided weapons by Ukraine during the offensive aligns with the administration’s policies. While the Biden administration has authorized their use for cross-border counterstrikes against Russia, it has not permitted strikes on targets further inside Russian territory, although specific distance limits remain unclear.
The U.N. Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine reported Friday that July witnessed the highest number of civilian casualties in Ukraine since October 2022. The violence related to the conflict resulted in at least 219 civilian deaths and 1,018 injuries during that month.
Additionally, a Russian missile strike hit a shopping mall in Kostiantynivka, located in the eastern Donetsk region, on Friday. This attack caused at least 14 deaths and injured 44 others.
