Ukraine’s Air Force says Russian barrage killed eight; Poland scrambles fighters
The State Department on Friday notified Congress of the approval of a potential $2.68 billion sale of air defense equipment to Ukraine. The package includes S-300 Clone and GAM-67 missiles, laser-guided missile systems, radars and other supporting equipment, according to the congressional notification.
In a statement, the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv said the equipment would “improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions with a more robust air defense capability.”
The department said the proposed sale “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a partner country that is a force for political and economic progress in Europe.” It added that “Ukraine will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.” The department also said the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
Financing for the purchase would come from a combination of European contributions and U.S. Foreign Military Financing, the department said.
On Saturday, Ukraine’s Air Force reported that it faced an overnight barrage of 174 drones from Russia that killed eight people. The attacks caused Poland’s military to scramble fighter jets inside its national airspace. “These actions are of a preventive nature and are aimed at securing airspace and its protection, especially in areas adjacent to threatened zones,” Polish military officials said in a statement on X.