Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (2024)

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (1)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (2)Getty Images

Weapons from a new US aid package for Ukraine have begun arriving on the front line.

After a year of political stalemate in the US, President Joe Biden approved military support worth almost $61bn (£49bn) in April.

What new military aid is being sent to Ukraine?

Ahead of a visit to Kyiv by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, a senior official said Ukraine had started to receive weapons to meet its "most pressing needs, particularly with an eye towards Russia's activities right now".

Of the $61bn worth of aid being provided, at least $8bn (£6.5bn) will be used to re-supply Ukraine with missiles and ammunition.

In May, the US Department of Defense said this would include extra munitions for Patriot air defence systems, more Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars).

The supply of US weapons to Ukraine dried up in early 2024 because a bill to grant more aid was delayed in Congress.

After the Senate finally passed the legislation in April, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the commitment "reinforces America's role as a beacon of democracy and leader of the free world".

Separately, the UK is sending an extra £500m on top of the £2.5bn in military aid it had already pledged to give Ukraine in 2024.

In February 2024, the EU agreed a further €50bn (£42bn; $54bn) aid package for Ukraine, after Hungary stopped blocking the deal.

The EU failed to meet its target of sending a million shells to Ukraine by the beginning of March.

However, the Czech Republic agreed a $1.5bn deal for a group of 18 Nato and EU countries to buy 800,000 rounds - both 155mm and 122mm calibre - from outside the EU.

How much military aid has previously been supplied to Ukraine?

Between February 2022 and February 2024, the US delivered or committed weapons and equipment worth $46.2bn to Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute, a German research organisation.

Germany gave Ukraine weapons and equipment worth $10.7bn, the UK $5.7bn, Denmark $5.2bn, and the Netherlands $4.1bn.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (3)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (4)

What arms shortages is Ukraine facing, and how are they affecting the war?

Before the latest aid package was approved, the US had warned that Ukraine's military was running short on munitions and morale was low.

President Zelensky identified a shortage of air defence missiles, saying Ukraine needs "seven more Patriots or similar air defence systems" to protect its cities.

These would allow Ukraine to "counter Russia's glide bombs, which [Moscow] is using to pound defensive positions and civilian targets like power stations," says Dr Marina Miron, of King's College London.

Ukrainian armed forces have also been limited to firing 2,000 shells a day, according to the UK-based think tank, the Royal United Services Institute (Rusi).

In contrast, Russian forces have been firing up to 10,000 shells a day, Rusi said. It said Russia gets almost three million shells a year from its own factories and from North Korea.

Ukraine has lost large areas of territory in the east of the country to Russian forces since October 2023, largely because of a lack of artillery.

It blamed shortages for the loss of the town of Avdiivka in February.

The resumption of US ammunition supplies means Ukraine could start using more artillery shells from its stocks, says Justin Crump, of risk intelligence company Sibylline.

"Ukrainian forces have been rationing shell use because they haven't been able to tell when new supplies are coming," he says.

What weapons have Western countries given Ukraine?

Anti-tank weapons

Western countries responded to Russia's invasion in February 2022 by giving Ukraine's armed forces defensive weapons, to counter Russia's armoured brigades.

The US and UK supplied thousands of Javelin and Nlaw anti-tank missiles.

These were considered crucial in stopping the advance of Russian forces on Kyiv.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (5)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (6)

Air defence systems

To counter Russian air superiority, and its attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure, Western nations have sent Ukraine several types of air defence system.

These range from the UK's short-range anti-aircraft weapon, Starstreak, to the Patriot missile system.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (7)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (8)

Patriots are expensive to operate - one missile costs about $3m.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (9)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (10)

The US and Norway have also provided the Nasams (National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System) for air defence, and Germany has offered the Iris-T.

Artillery and missiles

After Russia's retreat from Kyiv, the war became focused on the east of the country. Artillery and missiles were heavily used by both sides.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (11)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (12)

Australia, Canada, the US and others sent M777 howitzers and ammunition to Ukraine.

The US and UK also provided missile systems including Himars, and the M270 MLRS.

Ukraine has also received long-range missiles such as Scalp from France, Storm Shadow from the UK and ATACMS from the US.

The US has also supplied Ukraine with the longest-range version of ATACMS, which can travel 190 miles (300km). Before April 2024, it had only provided a shorter range version.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (13)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (14)

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (15)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (16)

In July 2023, the US said it had supplied cluster bombs to Ukraine, to help dislodge Russian troops from defensive positions.

These weapons, delivered mostly in artillery shells, scatter multiple bomblets, and are banned by more than 100 countries because of the risk they pose to civilians.

Tanks

In early 2023, Western nations agreed to send tanks to Ukraine.

It was hoped they would enable Ukraine to breach Russian defensive lines.

The UK provided the Challenger 2.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (17)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (18)

The US sent 31 Abrams tanks, and European nations have sent several German-made Leopard 2 tanks.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (19)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (20)

The US-built M1 Abrams has been described as the most advanced tank in the world.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (21)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (22)

However, none of this new armour enabled Ukraine to make a major breakthrough in its counter-offensive.

Drones

Drones have featured heavily throughout the war, for surveillance, targeting, launching missiles and as "kamikaze" weapons.

Turkey supplied missile-firing Bayraktar TB2 drones at the start of the war, the US has provided "Switchblade" kamikaze drones, and several countries have sent commercial surveillance drones, such as the Chinese-made DJI Mavic 3.

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (23)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (24)

In February 2024, the UK government said it would join a coalition of countries supplying Ukraine with thousands of "first person view" drones, for observation and target spotting.

Fighter jets

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (25)Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (26)

Ukraine has consistently asked the US for fighter jets, to counter Russia's air superiority.

In May 2023, President Joe Biden agreed to let other nations supply it with US-made F-16s. Denmark and the Netherlands offered to donate planes.

Ukrainian pilots have been learning how to fly them in 11 Western countries.

War in Ukraine

Volodymyr Zelensky

Russia

United States

Ukraine

Joe Biden

Ukraine weapons: What arms are being supplied and why are there shortages? (2024)

FAQs

Who are the biggest suppliers of arms to Ukraine? ›

Ukraine: 10 biggest providers of military aid
  • United States. The United States has pledged and provided the most military assistance to Ukraine for its fight against Russia. ...
  • Germany. ...
  • United Kingdom. ...
  • Denmark. ...
  • European Union. ...
  • The Netherlands. ...
  • Norway. ...
  • Poland.
Apr 19, 2024

Who is supplying Ukraine with the most weapons? ›

The United States supplied the largest worth of weapons to Ukraine between January and November 2022, at over 18.1 billion U.S. dollars.

What arms are being supplied to Ukraine? ›

Small arms

600 Glock 17 Pistols [February or March 2022]. 40 ''Prairie Gun Works'' sniper rifles [between April and June 2023]. 38 7.62mm machine guns [To be delivered from June 2023 onwards]. 21,000 5.56mm assault rifles [To be delivered from June 2023 onwards].

What countries are giving money to Ukraine? ›

CharacteristicFinancialMilitary
Germany1.4110.04
United Kingdom3.285.27
Japan4.840.06
Canada3.451.93
9 more rows
May 24, 2024

Who is the largest arms buyer in the world? ›

India continues to hold the title of the world's largest arms importer, despite ongoing efforts to bolster its defense-industrial base. Between 2019 and 2023, the country accounted for a significant 9.8% of the total global arms imports, reflecting a strategic vulnerability in its defense procurement.

Who manufactures weapons for the US military? ›

The same five American “prime” contractors have long dominated lists of the world's biggest arms manufacturers. Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, RTX, Boeing and General Dynamics have remained in the top seven of the Defense News ranking since it began in 2000.

How much money has the US sent to Ukraine so far? ›

To date, we have provided approximately $53.7 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its premeditated, unprovoked, and brutal full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and approximately $54.4 billion in military assistance since Russia's initial invasion of Ukraine in 2014.

How much money has Ukraine received from Canada? ›

Economic assistance

Canada has committed over $12.4 billion in financial assistance to Ukraine, which has helped the Ukrainian government continue to operate, including by delivering essential government services and pensions to Ukrainians.

Does the UK sell arms to Ukraine? ›

The UK has supplied arms to Ukraine to the value of £2.3 billion since the Russian invasion on 24th February 2022, and has pledged a further £2.3 billion for 2023. This post lists the arms supplied by the UK, as well as figures for the value of arms from other countries.

Why is Ukraine important to the United States? ›

U.S.-Ukraine Relations

The United States established diplomatic relations with Ukraine in 1991, following its independence from the Soviet Union. The United States attaches great importance to the success of Ukraine's transition to a modern democratic state with a flourishing market economy.

How much does the US give Israel per year? ›

The United States maintained grant aid to Israel at $3 billion annually and implemented a free trade agreement in 1985. Since then all customs duties between the two trading partners have been eliminated.

How is Ukraine paying for weapons? ›

The Department of Defense (DOD) provided Ukraine with billions of dollars' worth of weapons from its stockpiles to help respond to Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. As of March 2024, Congress provided $25.9 billion in supplemental funding that DOD can use to replace these weapons.

Who supplies most to Ukraine? ›

The UK is one of the leading donors to Ukraine, alongside the US and Germany. To date, the UK has pledged £12.5 billion in support to Ukraine since February 2022, of which £7.6 billion is for military assistance. This includes £3 billion for military assistance in 2024/25.

Where does Ukraine import weapons from? ›

At least 30 states, mainly European, are also sending military aid to Ukraine. The US accounted for 39% of Ukrainian arms imports from 2019 to 2023, with Germany (14%) and Poland (13%) following. In an effort to enhance Ukraine's military capabilities, suppliers began providing long-range systems in 2023.

What country does Ukraine import the most from? ›

China was the leading import origin of goods in Ukraine. In 2023, Ukraine imported merchandise worth over 10 billion U.S. dollars from China. The second-highest import value was recorded from Poland. Germany, which was the second-leading import origin in 2021, ranked third in 2022 and 2023.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kerri Lueilwitz

Last Updated:

Views: 6494

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (47 voted)

Reviews: 94% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kerri Lueilwitz

Birthday: 1992-10-31

Address: Suite 878 3699 Chantelle Roads, Colebury, NC 68599

Phone: +6111989609516

Job: Chief Farming Manager

Hobby: Mycology, Stone skipping, Dowsing, Whittling, Taxidermy, Sand art, Roller skating

Introduction: My name is Kerri Lueilwitz, I am a courageous, gentle, quaint, thankful, outstanding, brave, vast person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.