The U.S. Department of Defense has paused the delivery of certain air defense missiles and other precision munitions to Ukraine. The decision was made out of concern that U.S. weapon stockpiles have become too low.
That is confirmed by sources to news agency Reuters after reporting by news site Politico.
Elbridge Colby, policy chief of the Pentagon, made the decision after an evaluation of U.S. ammunition stockpiles. Concerns arose about an excessive decline in artillery shells, air defense missiles, and precision munitions with further deliveries to Ukraine.
The Department of Defense has not yet responded to the reporting. How many weapons are involved and whether the U.S. will resume deliveries is unclear.
The weapons whose delivery is being delayed should help in shooting down Russian drones, missiles and other munitions, according to Reuters. That anti-aircraft artillery is precisely what Ukraine wants now, as Russia has intensified its bombings lately.
For example, Russia launched its largest air attack last weekend since the beginning of the three-year war, reportedly with 477 drones and sixty missiles. The extent of the Russian attacks has been increasing in recent weeks. Each time, Russia attacks with just a few more drones and missiles.