How the US is Arming Ukraine

The M18A1 Claymore anti-personnel mine is a remotely detonated mine that fires a pattern of steel balls, much like a shotgun, in a fixed direction. The weapon has a range of about 110 yards and is effective against infantry troops and unarmored vehicles. So far, Claymores have reportedly been instrumental in slowing Russia’s progress in Ukraine.

C-4 is a versatile type of plastic explosive that can be used both on land and underwater. C-4 is being supplied by the U.S. to Ukraine expressly for the purposes of clearing obstacles and destroying Russian munitions and equipment, including landmines.

Effective and secure communication can mean the difference between victory and defeat in warfare, and to help the Ukrainian resistance in this capacity, the U.S. has pledged shipments of tactical secure communications systems. Because the Russian offensive continually targets Ukrainian telecom infrastructure, these systems may be crucial in repelling the Russian invasion.

In addition to advanced weapons and communication systems, the U.S. is sending Ukrainian fighters over 2,000 units of night vision devices, thermal imagery systems, optics, and laser rangefinders. These tools can empower individual soldiers with greater capabilities pertaining to information gathering and battle fighting.

Commercial satellite imagery is one of several intelligence sharing initiatives the U.S. has taken to aid Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion. Through a partnership with over 100 companies, including Maxar, BlackSky, and Planet, hundreds of commercial satellites are providing Ukraine and NATO nations with images of Russian troop movement and battlefield organization.