Ukraine asks US for Sentinel radars
Ukraine has asked the United States to provide short-range Sentinel radars to protect military plants and energy infrastructure this coming winter, a source close to the discussion told Politico.
According to him, representatives of Kyiv explained to their American colleagues that the provision of radars is not equivalent to the supply of Abrams tanks or F-16 fighters, which are needed on the battlefield, but it will be crucial this winter.
Sentinel radars can provide greater air defense coverage to areas of Ukraine where Russian attacks are expected. At the same time, they will become a kind of “umbrella” for military factories, which will be built jointly with Western defense enterprises.
However, the rapid provision of radars to Kyiv by the United States is limited by the exhaustion of the current assistance package - by the beginning of November, the Pentagon had spent 96% of the funds allocated to support Kyiv. Without congressional approval of a major new package, Washington will be able to make only small supplies of ammunition and equipment.
US President Joe Biden previously requested more than $100 billion in aid to Ukraine and Israel, of which Kyiv was to receive $60 billion. But Congress refused to accept the presidential project. Because of the position of Republicans who control the House of Representatives, the aid may not be approved until the new year.
In connection with the upcoming heating season, Kyiv is expecting a repeat of last year's Russian attacks on the energy infrastructure. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine, the Russian side is conducting reconnaissance before new attacks.
