Gen. Milley on Ukraine: ‘We Are Seeing Real and Measurable Gains … the War Is Not Over’
Another $675 million of U.S. assistance to beleaguered nation announced
Top American national security officials updated the nation Thursday on the latest in the US efforts to bolster the defense of Ukraine against the ongoing brutal Russian invasion.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed the media at the conclusion of a meeting of the multinational Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Austin announced the newest U.S. pledge to Ukraine of up to $675 million. This will provide missiles for high-mobility artillery rocket system, more 105 mm howitzers, artillery ammunition, up-armored Humvees, armored ambulances and much more, according to the US military.
The contact group heard from Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and Ukrainian Deputy Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Yevhen Moisiuk. “It's deeply meaningful to have them here with us in person as Ukraine begins its counter-offensive in Kherson, and I want to thank my brave Ukrainian colleagues for sharing their insights from the battlefield,” Austin said.
Both American officials said the Ukrainians are making good use of the military capabilities partner nations have given them. They specifically spoke of the HIMARS and M270 rocket systems which have been effective in Ukraine's push to regain sovereign territory that Russia took.
“We are seeing real and measurable gains from Ukraine in the use of these systems. For example, Ukrainians have struck over 400 targets with a HIMARS and they've had devastating effect,” Milley said of the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) which the US military has been providing to aid Ukraine's struggle.
HIMARS is a light multiple rocket launcher developed in the late 1990s for the United States Army and mounted on a standard United States Army M1140 truck frame.
“Russian lines of communication and supply channels are severely strained. It is having a direct impact on the Russian ability to project and sustain combat power,” Milley added. “Russian command and control in the headquarters had been disrupted and they're having -- they're having great difficulty with supplying their forces and replacing their combat losses. The war is not over. Russia is a big country. They have very serious ambitions with respect to Ukraine, so sustainment of Ukraine to continue their fight for their survival will be necessary.”
Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered the full-on invasion of Ukraine back in late February, and the Russian incursion has been incredibly brutal, often targeting civilian locations.
Russia is responding to the Ukrainian offensive “with a campaign of cruelty,” Austin said. “I'm especially concerned that Russia is creating … conditions around Ukrainian nuclear plant of Zaporizhzhia that's deeply reckless, and it could have grave consequences,” he said.
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