USA admits to secret aid to Ukraine — details from NYT
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The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has disclosed classified information about assistance to Ukraine in the production of drones. According to some officials, this had a "real strategic impact" on Russia's war against Ukraine.
This was reported by The New York Times on Friday, January 17.
US assistance in the development of UAVs
According to the publication, a significant portion of all U.S. assistance - missiles, air defense systems, tanks, artillery and training - has been announced to the public, but some of this assistance has remained in the shadows, namely support for the development of a new generation of drones. In addition to technical assistance, the United States also provided $1.5 billion in the fall of 2024 to increase drone production in Ukraine.
US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said this had a "real strategic impact" on the war.
"We have seen drones become increasingly central to the fighting in Ukraine and will be central to all future fighting," the newspaper quoted the official.
The publication also notes that the United States, in addition to financing the production and purchase of spare parts, has established ties between American technology companies and Ukrainian drone manufacturers. According to Sullivan, the assistance in the production and modernization of drones began after the first counteroffensive of the Ukrainian armed forces in the fall of 2022.
According to U.S. officials, the funding has helped Ukrainian drones become more effective and lethal, as evidenced by the destruction of a quarter of Russia's Black Sea Fleet by Ukrainian naval drones and the slowing of the Russian offensive in the east. Moreover, Sullivan added, the development of the Ukrainian drone industry has had an impact on the United States' own defense industry.
Assistance with drones from other countries
As a reminder, the United Kingdom has announced the creation of an international coalition to supply drones to Ukraine. The country, together with its partners, intends to supply Ukraine with UAVs worth 54 million euros.
Poland has also started large-scale production of drones for Ukraine. It is known that the country has already built a plant of the Ukrainian defense industry.
We would like to add that philanthropists from the United States have donated a Hazard unmanned aerial vehicle and an HMMWV to the Ukrainian military.
