CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia National Guard will provide Ukrainian military forces with an undisclosed number of armored vehicles to assist the country in its war against Russia.
Gov. Jim Justice announced the pending shipment on Friday, a day after President Joe Biden pledged $800 million in military aid including heavy artillery guns, ammunition and drones.
The M-113 Armored Personnel Carriers are used for transporting soldiers and military equipment across battlefields while also providing protection from firearms and artillery.
“We have to step up. Americans have to step up,” Justice said during Friday’s coronavirus briefing. “The Ukrainian people are hurting, and we should have stepped up long before this ever happened.”
Justice said he could not provide details about the number of vehicles or the progress of the shipment, but noted the vehicles will be moved overseas “immediately.”
The governor in March directed the West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Department of Homeland Security to collect unused or recently expired ballistic vests for Ukrainian soldiers. He also asked the state Legislature to direct $5 million for a Ukrainian maternity and children’s hospital destroyed by military conflict.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Wednesday announced the Ohio Army National Guard would give identical armored personnel carriers to the Ukrainian military.