Airwar in Ukraine - Help is Finally on the Way
The most significant news of the observed period (from April 1 to April 30) was the approval of a large package of American military aid for Ukraine. The Republican Party had been blocking it in the US Congress for domestic political reasons since the fall. This delay put the Ukrainian armed forces into a difficult situation, unnecessarily losing territory and soldiers. Civilian suffering due to Russian air raids on Ukrainian cities was also unnecessary.
Miro Barič
Help is Finally on the Way
The military aid was first approved by the
House of Representatives, then by the Senate,
and a few days later, on Wednesday, April
24, it was signed by US President Joe Biden.
The US military had already indicated that
it was ready to provide the most essential
aid almost immediately. It began flowing into
Ukraine through Poland right after the signing.
The package includes $61 billion for Ukraine
and $26.4 billion for Israel. This sum includes
$9.1 billion in humanitarian aid for the Gaza
Strip. An additional $8.1 billion will go to aid
US allies in Asia, particularly Taiwan. Most of
this aid will not be received by Ukraine directly
in the form of funds but will be invested in
American businesses. The Pentagon will
purchase weapons from American companies
for Ukraine for $14 billion. For another $23
billion, the US military will replenish its own
stockpiles of weapons and ammunition, which
can be later transferred to Ukraine as needed.
Help from Slovakia Too
Amid the billions from the USA, the millions
from Slovakia might seem insignificant.
However, it's important that they were raised
by the citizens. The new Slovak government
refused to join the Czech government’s initiative
to purchase critically needed ammunition for
Ukraine. The Czech government is seeking
artillery shells that can be immediately
bought in various countries, especially outside
the EU. More than 20 states have joined the
Czech government, providing the necessary
funds for ammunition procurement. However,
the Slovak government publicly declined to
participate. Instead, civil activists and non-
governmental organizations took action.
They launched a fundraiser under the slogan
“If not the government, we send.”
Several notable figures supported the
collection, including former partisan and SNP
participant Otto Šimko, who celebrates his
hundredth birthday on June 1. Drawing from
his World War II experience, he explains why
he decided to contribute: “It was not possible
to negotiate with aggressors; they had to be
defeated.” The Slovak fundraiser “Ammunition
for Ukraine” collected 4 million euros in the
first three weeks, contributed by 65,000
donors. With this money, they purchased 2,692
artillery shells of 122 mm caliber, already
manufactured by the Czech company STV
Group. The ammunition was thus able to be
sent to Ukraine immediately after payment.
The collection continues.
However, until the help from the USA and
the Czech initiative reaches the front, the
Ukrainian armed forces had to endure another
tough month. Russia tried to take advantage of
the time before the western aid materialized
and attacked with full force on all fronts.
At the end of April, the Russians exploited
a poor rotation of Ukrainian units and
The most significant news
of the observed period (from
April 1 to April 30) was the approval
of a large package of American military
aid for Ukraine. The Republican Party had been
blocking it in the US Congress for domestic political
reasons since the fall. This delay put the Ukrainian
armed forces into a difficult situation, unnecessarily
losing territory and soldiers. Civilian suffering due
to Russian air raids on Ukrainian cities was also
unnecessary.
ARTICLES
A damaged component of the Patriot system, which had to be transported from Ukraine to the USA for repairs.
A former Slovak MiG-29UBS number
1303 now in Ukrainian Air Force service.
Air War in Ukraine
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