Ukraine’s crowd-funded drones thwart Russian advance amid arms shortages

The critical shortage and delay of Western arms supplies is “terrible,” and frontline units are relying on donations or trying to procure drones themselves.

“The only thing preventing Russia’s breakthrough on all fronts is FPV (first-person) drones, 90% of which are provided by volunteers or military divisions themselves,” he said, warning that Russia is preparing a massive offensive for this summer.

“I get 20 shells for a mortar per week, while a Russian mortar fires 50-60 shells a day at one Ukrainian position,” Kurylenko said, describing the “horrible” situation with shells and gear compared to the “bad situation” a year ago.

“Imagine: a column of Russian hardwear comes at you. They attack. If we shoot at them with a mortar, the next day we will have just machine guns to fire at the next column of tanks...”

Stalled Ukraine aid bill in Congress

The U.S. Senate in the final vote supported on Feb. 13 a bill that provides $95 billion in aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, $60 billion of which is for Kyiv.

The same day, Johnson once again criticized the Senate proposal. He stated that he was not going to submit the bill supported by the Senate for consideration.

After a meeting with Biden at the White House on Feb. 28, Johnson said that he would put the extension of aid to Ukraine to a vote “in a timely manner.” During a meeting with leaders of both parties in Congress, Biden emphasized the “urgent need” to provide aid to Ukraine.

White House spokesperson Karin Jean-Pierre said that United States is convinced that the bill containing aid to Ukraine will receive enough votes from both parties, but Johnson is looking for an excuse not to put it to a vote on March 26.

Johnson said on April 1 that the bill would include “some important innovations.”

On April 12, the Associated Press (AP) reported that U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson was negotiating with the White House in preparation for a vote on a military aid package for Ukraine and Israel.