A Ukrainian soldier of the 47th Magura Separate Mechanized Brigade drives a US-supplied M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle near the frontline in southern Ukraine, June 26, 2023
(Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters)

EA-Times Radio Special: Will US Aid Help Turn Tide in Ukraine v. Russia’s Invasion?

Thursday’s Coverage: Kyiv Attacking Russians With US Long-Range ATACMS Missiles

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1337 GMT:

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis says Greece will not send air defense systems, such as US-made Patriots or Russian S-300s, to Ukraine.

Mitsotakis said in a televised interview late Thursday, “We were asked [by other European countries] and we explained why we cannot do it.” He said the systems are “critical to our deterrent capability”.

UPDATE 0920 GMT:

Ukraine is withdrawing US-made Abrams M1A1 battle tanks for now from the frontlines, in part because of Russian drone warfare.

The US finally agreed to send 31 Abrams to Ukraine in January 2023. Five have reportedly been lost to Russian attacks.

A “senior US defense official” said Thursday that drones on the Ukrainian battlefield mean “there isn’t open ground that you can just drive across without fear of detection”.

The Vice Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Christopher Grady said the US will work with the Ukrainians to reset tactics.

When you think about the way the fight has evolved, massed armor in an environment where unmanned aerial systems are ubiquitous can be at risk.

Now, there is a way to do it. We’ll work with our Ukrainian partners, and other partners on the ground, to help them think through how they might use that, in that kind of changed environment now, where everything is seen immediately.

UPDATE 0903 GMT:

A 17-year-old girl from the Siberian city of Chita in eastern Russia has been sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for anti-war graffiti and social media posts.

Lyubov Lizunova, then 15, was detained with two other youths in October 2022. They were initially accused of spray-painting the phrase “Death to the regime!” on the side of a garage. Later, they were denounced for running anti-war and animal rights channels on the Telegram messaging app.

The First Eastern Military Garrison Court said Thursday it found Lizunova guilty on two charges of calling for terrorism and extremism. She also received a three-year ban on using the internet.

The two men, aged 19 and 23, were condemned to penal terms of six years and 18 months, respectively.

UPDATE 0851 GMT:

Five people have been killed in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine by overnight Russian attacks.

Three were slain in Udachne, one in Kurakhivka, and one in Ocheretyne.

UPDATE 0750 GMT:

Ukraine Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky has been detained under a Ukrainian court order.

Solsky, who resigned Thursday, is accused of involvement in illegal acquisition of state-owned land. He has denied the allegations, concerning events before he became Agriculture Minister.

UPDATE 0554 GMT:

Following its shift to allow supply of ATACMS long-range missile to Ukraine, the Biden Administration is hoping that Germany will follow with the provision of Taurus missiles with an even longer range.

A “senior US defense official” said Thursday:

On the issue of the Taurus…it’s a decision for Germany to make.

But of course with the US supply of ATACMS as well as the previous decisions of the UK and France to supply long-range missiles, we obviously have the hope that this will play a role.

The Biden Administration had refrained from delivery of the ATACMS, with a range of 300 km (186 miles), but began supply this month amid imminent passage of the $60.8 billion bill for assistance to Ukraine.

The Taurus has a range of up to 500 km (310 miles). German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly objected to giving Kyiv the missles,a nd an opposition bill failed in the Bundestag in late February.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The US will soon announce a $6 billion military assistance package for Ukraine, days after passage of a bill authorizing $60.8 billion in aid.

Two officials said the final provisions are being completed for contracts for weapons and equipment in one of the largest packages during Russia’s 26-month invasion.

The assistance will include Patriot air defense munitions, artillery ammunition, drones, counter-drone weapons, and air-to-air missiles fitted on fighter planes.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is expected to announce the new aid during a virtual meeting on Friday of the more than 50 nations of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

The Biden Administration has acted quickly after the end of the 6 1/2-month blockade by Trumpists and hard-right Republicans of any help for Ukraine.

See also Ukraine War, Day 791: US Senate Approves $60.8 Billion in Aid to Kyiv

Preparing for the possible breakthrough, the US military had already stocked munitions in Europe for disbursement. Officials said on Tuesday that the first $1 billion military aid package would include vehicles, Stinger air defense munitions, additional ammunition for HIMARS rocket systems, 155-mm artillery ammunition, TOW and Javelin anti-tank munitions, and other weapons for the frontline.

On Wednesday the Administration confirmed that ATACMS missiles, with a range of up to 300 km (186 miles), have been supplied to Ukraine for the first time. The weapons have already been used in attacks on Russian forces in occupied territory.

The Pentagon’s head of acquisitions, William LaPlante, said Wednesday, “Literally right now there are planes flying probably with equipment to Ukraine. All we need is to sign the bill and we’re gone. We’re writing contracts this afternoon.”