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LIVE UPDATES: Biden Authorizes $400 Mln of Military Assistance for Ukraine - White House

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Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to attacks perpetrateed by Kiev against the Donetsk and Lugansk People's... 08.07.2022, Sputnik International

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LIVE UPDATES: Biden Authorizes $400 Mln of Military Assistance for Ukraine - White House

06:56 GMT 08.07.2022 (Updated: 20:56 GMT 19.10.2022)

Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine on February 24 in response to attacks perpetrateed by Kiev against the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. President Putin stressed that the op was started to stop the eight-year-long war, waged by Ukraine, noting that Kiev's actions in the region amount to genocide.

Russian troops and Donbass militia continue advancing amid the opeartion: last week, the joint forces took over the city of Lisichansk, liberating the LPR territory from the Ukrainian forces.

At the same time, Kiev's troops continue to shell cities in Donbass, including Donetsk.

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02:11 GMT 09.07.2022

Washington's Desire to Prolong Ukraine Conflict Behind HIMARS' Delivery - Russian Embassy

Washington's "unrestrained desire" to prolong the conflict in Ukraine is behind the delivery of four more High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), the Russian embassy in the United States said on Saturday.

US President Joe Biden authorized a new $400 million drawdown of additional military assistance for Ukraine amid Russia's special military operation Friday. The US Defense Department said earlier on Friday that the new military assistance package includes four HIMARS, 1,000 rounds of 155-millimeter artillery munitions with greater precision capabilities, counter-battery systems, and other military equipment.

"We noted the Pentagon's statement about the upcoming delivery of four more HIMARS MLRS to Ukraine. Washington's unrestrained desire to prolong the conflict at any cost, compensate for the growing losses of the national battalions and Ukrainian armed forces through the delivery of arms is behind this decision," the embassy said on Telegram.

The embassy called the statements of US officials about "defensive purposes" of the use of US arms in Ukraine inconsequential since Kiev uses American weapons to shell Donbas and target residential areas of the city of Donetsk.

22:25 GMT 08.07.2022

US Fighter Jets F-35 Arrive at Estonian Air Base - Defense Ministry

United States Air Forces F-35 jets have landed at Estonian Amari air base in support of NATO's Air Shielding mission on the eastern flank, the press service of the Estonian Defense Forces General Staff said on Friday.

"US F-35 jets arrived at Amari air base near Tallinn to strengthen the patrol missions over the Baltic Sea region," the statement read.

Apart from the US F-35s, French fighter jets Mirage-2000 and Belgian F-16 jets are also deployed at Amari air base under NATO's air policing mission.

Baltic countries do not have suitable aircraft for air patrols, which is why since April 2004, after their accession to NATO, airspace security is maintained in rotation by the NATO planes, which are based in Lithuania. The Amari air base became an additional platform for placing NATO aircraft in 2014.

21:56 GMT 08.07.2022

Biden Authorizes $400Mln Drawdown of Military Assistance for Ukraine - White House

US President Joe Biden said in a memorandum that he has authorized a new $400 million drawdown of additional military assistance for Ukraine amid Russia's special military operation.

"By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America... I hereby delegate to the Secretary of State the authority under section 506(a)(1) of the FAA to direct the drawdown of up to $400 million in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, to provide assistance to Ukraine and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown," Biden said in the memorandum on Friday.

Earlier in the day, the Defense Department said the new military assistance package includes four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), 1,000 rounds of 155 millimeter artillery munitions with greater precision capabilities, counter battery systems and other equipment.

On February 24, Russia launched a special military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk requested help to defend them from intensifying attacks by Ukrainian troops. The Russian Ministry of Defense said the operation is solely targeting Ukrainian military infrastructure. The United States and its allies comprising the collective West have since provided Ukraine with offensive and defensive military equipment worth multiple billions of dollars.

17:36 GMT 08.07.2022

US Defense Official Denies Reports Ukrainians Using HIMARS to Hit Targets Outside Ukraine

A senior US Defense Department official on Friday denied reports that Ukrainian troops are using the US-supplied High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) to strike targets outside of Ukraine.

“Russian claims about using HIMARS to strike beyond, outside of Ukrainian territory, those claims are false," the official said during a press briefing.

17:35 GMT 08.07.2022

US Plans to Supply Ukrainians With Military Equipment in Months, Years Ahead

The United States wants Russia to "rethink" its plans to "outlast" the Ukrainians in terms of military supplies because Washington is already thinking about Kiev's military needs in the months and years ahead, a senior US defense official said on Friday.

"I would say for the Russians to know that the Ukrainians are going to be able to continue the fight because if the Russians think they can outlast the Ukrainians, they need to rethink that because we are already pivoting towards thinking about what the Ukrainians will need in the months and years ahead," the official told a press briefing.

17:35 GMT 08.07.2022

US, Allies Discuss Providing Ukraine With New Coastal Defense Systems

The United States and its allies are discussing sending additional coastal defense systems to Ukraine amid Russia’s special military operation, a senior US defense official said on Friday.

"We have already been looking at and discussing with allies and partners systems for coastal defense capabilities," the official said during a press briefing.

The official added that Ukrainian forces are using the supplied equipment "at such an intense pace" that it needs a lot of training and resources for sustainment, repair, logistics.

17:34 GMT 08.07.2022

US to Deliver NASAMS Missile Systems to Ukraine Within Several Months

The United States is planning to deliver National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) to Ukraine within several months after Washington committed two systems in the previous $820 million military aid package, a senior US defense official said on Friday.

"It's moving forward, now that it's been decided by the [US] President [Joe Biden]. I can't give you details of where it is in the contracting process. But you know, we don't see any challenges," the official told a press briefing. "I can't give you a number ... I would say it's several months."

17:33 GMT 08.07.2022

Biden to Announce New $400Mln Military Aid Package for Ukraine on Friday, Pentagon Official Says

US President Joe Biden will announce a new $400 million military assistance package for Ukraine later on Friday, a senior US defense official said.

"The White House will be announcing the President has decided to provide another round of presidential drawdown authority ... this PDA package is assistance valued up to $400 million," the official said during a conference call.

The official said the new package includes four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and one thousand rounds of new 155 millimeter artillery ammunition, which they repeatedly declined to clarify whether they are Excalibur rounds.

17:01 GMT 08.07.2022

Ukrainian Defense Minister Says Number of Ukrainian Troops Exceeds 1Mln - Reports

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that the number of Ukrainian military personnel is more than one million people, Ukrainian media reported on Friday.

The structure of the Ukrainian army includes the armed forces of Ukraine with up to 700,000 people, the national police with up to 100,000 people, the national guard with up to 90,000 and border guards with up to 60,000 people, Ukrainian news website Strana.ua reported, citing Reznikov.

Martial law throughout Ukraine was introduced on February 24 and was extended monthly amid Russia's special military operation in the country. On May 22, the Ukrainian parliament extended the martial law and general mobilization for 90 days until August 23.

16:56 GMT 08.07.2022

Ukrainian Drone Attacks Russian Border Post, Gas Station in Bryansk Region

A Ukrainian drone attacked a Russian border post and a gas station in the Bryansk region on Friday, Governor Alexander Bogomaz said, adding that the incident did not lead to any casualties.

"Today, Ukrainian drones entered the airspace of our region twice. In the afternoon, a drone fired at a border post in the village of Chernozemny and a gas station in the village of Novye Yurkovichi, Klimovsky district. There were no casualties or injuries, civilian objects were not damaged," Bogomaz wrote on his telegram channel.

The governor also said that one Ukrainian drone was shot down in the region on Friday.

16:48 GMT 08.07.2022

A cargo ship blocks a passage under the arch of the Crimean bridge over Kerch Strait in Russia, November 25, 2018 - Sputnik International, 1920, 08.07.2022

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11:47 GMT 08.07.2022

DPR Parliament Lifts Moratorium on Execution of Death Sentences

The People's Council of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) lifted the moratorium on the execution of death sentences.

"Considering that an exceptional measure of punishment can only be established for especially grave crimes encroaching on life, as well as for certain crimes committed in wartime or in a combat situation, due to the need to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and interests of the Donetsk People’s Republic in the current military-political situation, the draft law proposes to recognize part 9 of article 202 of the Penal Code as invalid. Thus, the provisions of the Penal Code on the execution of the death penalty will come into force from the date of the official publication of this Law," Elena Shishkina, the head of the parliament's committee on criminal and administrative legislation said.

The law "On Amendments to Article 202 of the Penal Code of the Donetsk People's Republic" was adopted by lawmakers in two readings.

07:14 GMT 08.07.2022

DPR Says Up to 30 Ukrainian Troops Eliminated Over the Past Day