The United States will offer Ukraine a new military aid package, worth an estimated $725 million, to bolster its fight against Russian invaders, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken announced today.

The new package of military aid includes Stinger and HIMARS missiles, drones and mines, among others, according to the briefing from the US secretary of state.

Fifty days before the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, the Biden administration wants to “ensure that Ukraine has the means it needs to defend itself against Russian attacks,” Anthony Blinken said in a statement.

Russian strikes in Dipropetrovsk region

The Russian armed forces today launched attacks against Nikopolis and Krivy Rih (including the birthplace of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky), in the southeastern Dipropetrovsk region.

In a post on the Telegram platform, regional governor Serhii Lisak spoke of more than ten hits in the two locations with artillery barrages and drone strikes. One injury was reported, while homes and electricity and gas distribution networks were damaged, Lisak writes.

Nikopoli is targeted by Russian forces for the second day in a row. The industrial center is located on the north bank of the Dnieper River, opposite the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant which is controlled by Russian forces.