WASHINGTON — The Pentagon announced an additional $425 million in military assistance to Ukraine on Friday, marking the Biden administration’s sixty-ninth aid package since August 2021.

This latest tranche, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defenses, includes air defense interceptors, munitions for rocket systems and artillery, armored vehicles, and anti-tank weapons, addressing what the Pentagon described as Ukraine's “most urgent needs.”

The announcement comes as US officials report North Korea has sent approximately 10,000 troops to Russia to support its war efforts against Ukraine.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Thursday that around 8,000 North Korean soldiers are currently positioned in Russia's Kursk region, close to the Ukrainian border, and are expected to engage in combat "in the coming days." — Agencies