LOC17:28
14:28 GMT
WASHINGTON, Sept 26 (KUNA) -- The US will provide an additional USD 457.5 million in civilian security assistance for Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced on Monday.
Blinken said in a statement that this assistance is to "enhance the efforts of Ukrainian law enforcement and criminal justice agencies to improve their operational capacity and save lives as they continue to help defend the Ukrainian people, their freedom, and their democracy from the Kremlin's brutal war of aggression."
"Ukrainian law enforcement officers remain resilient, motivated, and determined to carry out their wide-ranging law enforcement missions and support for innocent civilians in towns and cities facing continuous Russian shelling," he stressed.
"In addition to expanding our direct assistance to Ukrainian law enforcement, a portion of this new assistance will also continue US support for the Ukrainian government's efforts to document, investigate and prosecute atrocities perpetrated by Russia's forces, drawing on our long-standing relationship with Ukrainian criminal justice agencies," he noted.
"The United States stands side-by-side with the Ukrainian people and remains committed to supporting a democratic, independent, and sovereign Ukraine.
"Since mid-December 2021, the United States has now committed more than USD 645 million in assistance that has provided a tangible, positive impact on our Ukrainian law enforcement and criminal justice partners," Blinken went on.
"Our provision of personal protective equipment, medical supplies, and armored vehicles has significantly reduced casualties for Ukrainian civilians and their defenders," he added. (end)
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