U.S. Ships Weapons Worth $450-M To Ukraine

The United States is sending artillery systems, medium-range rockets, and other weapons worth $450 million to Ukraine to help in its counteroffensive against Russian invaders, Ukraine Daily reported.

Photo Insert: A US-made medium-range rocket system

Ukraine forced Russia to move to the Donbas region after battering its main force assigned to take over Kyiv, with the long-drawn battles killing thousands of elite Russian troops and forcing Russian President Vladimir Putin to use millions of artillery rounds to destroy infrastructure in Sievierodonetsk and environs.

On June 24, Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai stated that the Ukrainian military will have to withdraw from Sievierodonetsk.

"That is something we've been talking about. Do not spread rumors of betrayal. Nobody abandons our guys, nobody allows the encirclement of our troops. The situation right now is as such that staying at these destroyed positions just for the sake of being there doesn't make sense," Gaidai said. At least 90% of the city's infrastructure has been destroyed.

According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in the United States, the Russian onslaught in Donbas would likely stagnate in the next weeks. In its assessment on June 23, Russian forces have made gains in the Sievierodonetsk-Lysychansk area during the last several days, but Ukrainian forces have basically accomplished their goal in the war by slowing down and degrading Russian troops.

As per ISW, Ukrainian forces would likely initiate offensives to draw in Russian forces before unleashing heavy artillery and aerial attacks. On June 23, Ukraine claimed to have killed 44 Russian servicemen and destroyed howitzers and armored vehicles in southern Ukraine.

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