New Pentagon $250 Million Aid to Ukraine Includes Naval Support

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Defense Department’s plans to provide additional security cooperation aid to Ukraine includes unspecified support for Ukraine’s navy and naval infantry, the Pentagon said in a release.

DoD said it would provide $250 million in security cooperation funds to Ukraine “for additional training, equipment and advisory efforts to build the capacity of Ukraine’s armed forces.”

The security assistance funds will bring the total given to Ukraine to $1.5 billion since 2014.

“The new funds will provide equipment to support ongoing training programs and operational needs, including capabilities to enhance: maritime situational awareness and operations as part of ongoing U.S. efforts to increase support for Ukraine’s navy and naval infantry; the defensive capacity and survivability of Ukraine’s land and special operations forces through the provision of sniper rifles, rocket-propelled grenade launchers, and counter-artillery radars; command and control; electronic warfare detection and secure communications; military mobility; night vision; and, military medical treatment,” according to the June 18 release.

DoD said the funding “is made possible by Ukraine’s continued progress on the adoption of key defense institutional reforms to align Ukraine’s national security architecture with Euro-Atlantic principles.

“The United States remains committed to helping Ukraine implement provisions of Ukraine’s 2018 Law on National Security to strengthen democratic civilian control of the military, promote command and control reforms, enhance transparency and accountability in acquisition and budgeting, and advance defense industry reforms. These reforms will bolster Ukraine’s ability to defend its territorial integrity in support of a secure, prosperous, democratic and free Ukraine.”