June 25th, 2023 by WCBC Radio

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Jack Reed and Ranking Member Roger Wicker urging the Committee to support Ukraine’s air defense by facilitating the transfer of additional U.S. air defense assets to Ukraine.

The Senators write, “As Ukraine continues its brave fight against Russia’s unprovoked invasion, we write regarding the urgent need to support Ukraine’s air defense and help defend its territorial integrity. Ukraine has repeatedly emphasized its need for enhanced air defense capabilities to protect its citizens and its territory. While the United States has transferred equipment and munitions for Patriot and HAWK air-defense systems, there is more we can and should provide.”

They note, “On May 9, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Commanding General LTG Daniel Karbler told the Senate Armed Services Committee that the United States has ‘two Iron Dome batteries right now. One completed new equipment training, new equipment fielding. It is prepared for deployment. The other one is wrapping up its new equipment training right now. So the army does have one [Iron Dome battery] available for deployment if we get a request.’”

The Senators go on to underscore Ukraine’s urgent need for this support in order to save civilian lives, pointing to recent examples of the horrific loss of civilian life in Ukraine as a result of indiscriminate Russian bombing. They close the letter, stating, “To be clear, we are not asking Israel to transfer its own Iron Dome systems which are critical to their own security, but simply to allow the United States to transfer our own batteries to help the people of Ukraine. If not practicable to transfer these assets to Ukraine, we ask that you look at other ways to assist, including moving them to another United States ally under the control and supervision of our own forces, thus freeing up other United States air defense assets to be transferred to bolster Ukraine’s air defense needs and save more Ukrainian lives.”