Since 24 February, the US has provided $10.6 billion in military assistance to the Ukrainian government. Source: George Tavadze, Flickr.
The US government is expected to announce $3 billion in aid going to Ukraine, coinciding with the six-month anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
The security assistance package will be the largest one to date that has been sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country.
Since 24 February, the Biden administration has provided $10.6 billion in military assistance to the Ukrainian government.
The announcement is expected to come on Ukraine’s independence day on Wednesday.
The US embassy has recently urged its citizens in Ukraine to leave if it is safe for them to do so, over fears of possible Russian missile strikes as the country reaches 31 years of independence from Soviet rule.
It is not the first time the US has issued warnings to leave, this one comes because the embassy believes Russia is preparing to target civilian and government infrastructure over the next few days.
Ukraine’s defence ministry has advised its own citizens to be especially cautious on the day.
Andriy Yusov, the head of the ministry’s intelligence directorate said Putin and Russia “are really obsessed with dates and symbols, so it would be logical to be on the lookout and be prepared for independence day to be attacked”.
The capital Kyiv will be banning public celebrations this week, citing the heightened threat.
Kyiv is far away from the frontline and since defenders fought off a Russian ground offensive in March, it has been rarely hit by Russian missiles.
However, local authorities have banned public events relating to the anniversary from Monday until Thursday.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned any Russian attacks on the day would be met by a powerful response.
A UN rights office spokesperson, Ravina Shamdasani, has also voiced the UN’s concern for Ukrainian prisoners of war set to be tried in the coming days.
International law entitles prisoners of war to combatant immunity and they cannot be prosecuted for participating in hostilities or lawful acts of war committed during armed conflict.
Depriving a prisoner of war to the right to a fair trial would amount to a war crime.
“We are very concerned about the manner in which this is being done,” she said.
“There are pictures in the media of cages being built in Mariupol’s philharmonic hall, really massive cages and apparently the idea is to restrain the prisoners.”
Zelenskyy has said if the prisoners are put on trial it will eliminate the chance of talks with Moscow.
