U.S., EU Ship 17,000 Anti-Tank Missiles, 2,000 Stingers To Ukraine

Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley went last week to an airfield near the Ukrainian border that has become a hub for shipping weapons, a senior Defense Department official said, seeing firsthand the multinational effort to get weapons into Ukraine amid Russia's unprovoked invasion, Oren Lieberman reported for CNN.

Photo Insert: US Army training with an FIM-92 Stinger Man-Portable, Air Defense Missile System

While at the airfield, Milley met with troops and personnel and examined the transport of weapons.

The site has become a beehive of activity in recent days, going from a handful of flights each day to as many as 17, the field's maximum capacity. The airport's location remains a secret to protect the shipments of weapons, including anti-armor missiles, into Ukraine.

The Russian military has not targeted these shipments once they enter Ukraine, the official said, but there is some concern Russia could begin targeting the deliveries as its assault advances.

The US and other NATO members have so far sent Ukraine 17,000 anti-tank missiles and 2,000 stinger anti-aircraft missiles, a senior US official told CNN. Since even before Russia's invasion began late last month, the skies above Europe have been filled with military cargo aircraft of the US and others, particularly C-17s, the backbone of the US airlift fleet.

The flights have been repositioning troops along NATO's eastern flank, but also moving weapons to the transfer points where they can be delivered to Ukraine. These missiles have been responsible for downing hundreds of Russian aircraft and destroying tanks and armored personnel carriers.

US European Command (EUCOM) is at the heart of the massive shipment operation, using its liaison network with allies and partners to coordinate "in real-time" to send materials into Ukraine, a second Defense official said.

EUCOM is also coordinating with other countries, including the United Kingdom, in terms of the delivery process "to ensure that we are using our resources to maximum efficiency to support the Ukrainians in an organized way," the official added.

Since Russia's invasion began, 14 countries have sent security assistance to Ukraine, the official said, some of whom had rarely sent such substantial equipment before.

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