The European Commission announced on Saturday, Ukraine's Independence Day, that it is providing Kyiv with a €6.1 billion tranche to purchase air and missile defense systems, rockets, ammunition and radars, which European officials say the country urgently needs.
The funds come under the Ukraine Support Loan, a €90 billion credit facility approved by the European Union in April. Previously, €16 billion in purchases had been approved under the loan, of which €8.35 billion has been paid out. Most of the new procurement will go to EU defense manufacturers, the Commission said.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU is scaling up support amid intensifying Russian attacks, to help Ukraine protect its population and airspace.
The decision comes as Russia has stepped up strikes using ballistic missiles and drones. According to Commission data, 376 missile strikes were recorded in July alone. In early August, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported a shortage of interceptor missiles after a massive strike on Kyiv.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, the EU and its member states have provided Ukraine with assistance totaling €220.2 billion, including €3.8 billion from revenues generated by frozen Russian assets.