A decade later, neither Congress nor the Kremlin may have anticipated that these helicopters can be used in opposition to Russian forces by the use of arms transfers engineered by america in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
The Mi-17s’ uncommon journey went unmentioned in the announcement final week by President Biden touting his approval of an $800 million safety package deal dramatically increasing the scope of army support Washington is supplying to Kyiv.
“These new capabilities embody artillery programs, artillery rounds and armored personnel carriers,” mentioned Biden. “I’ve additionally accepted the switch of extra helicopters.”
These 11 helicopters are headed to Ukraine at an important time for its outgunned and outmanned army, as Russia intensifies its assaults on the nation’s east and south. The Mi-17s are personnel transports that may be armed with cannons and rockets, permitting them to carry out an assault function and supply shut air assist.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky personally appealed to Biden for the helicopters final week throughout a telephone name that resulted within the last-minute addition of the plane to the most recent safety package deal, mentioned folks aware of the choice who, like others, spoke on the situation of anonymity to debate the arms transfers.
“Ukraine may use the Mi-17s to move troops, together with for particular operations raids, evacuate casualties, transfer ammunition and different key provides, or assault Russian targets, together with troops or infrastructure,” mentioned Rob Lee, a senior fellow on the Overseas Coverage Analysis Institute who focuses on Russian protection coverage.
“The extra helicopters they’ve means they will use them extra aggressively,” he mentioned.
In complete, america has agreed to offer 16 Mi-17s to Ukraine. All have been present process U.S.-contracted upkeep outdoors of Afghanistan in August when the Taliban took over the nation and seized billions of {dollars} in Western-supplied army gear, mentioned Capt. Mike Kafka, a Pentagon spokesman.
At the moment, the helicopters nonetheless belonged to the Afghan authorities, however as a result of they have been paid for by U.S. taxpayers below the Afghanistan Safety Forces Fund, the Pentagon notified Congress in December that it meant to “deal with” the plane as Protection Division property, mentioned U.S. protection officers aware of the matter.
As soon as Biden agreed to switch the helicopters to Ukraine, the subsequent problem was getting them there.
Conveniently, 5 Mi-17s already have been in Ukraine for upkeep when Russia’s offensive started — not an unusual prevalence given Ukraine’s experience in Soviet-designed army gear. These helicopters, deemed “extra protection articles” below the Arms Export Management Act, formally have been handed over to Ukraine, mentioned a protection official.
The opposite 11 Mi-17s are in storage at Davis-Monthan Air Pressure Base outdoors of Tucson. The Pentagon may ship them to Ukraine as early as this weekend, the protection official mentioned, cautioning that “quite a lot of components,” together with the climate, would decide the exact date.
The flood of weapons into Ukraine has infuriated Moscow, which has warned america to cease arming Ukraine or face “unpredictable penalties.”
Russia’s Overseas Ministry spokeswoman mentioned Wednesday that the Pentagon’s helicopter transfers ought to function a warning to Ukraine of how Washington treats its safety companions.
“The Pentagon is now sending helicopters to Ukraine, helicopters it had beforehand ordered for the military of Afghanistan — a rustic that the Individuals lastly dumped,” Maria Zakharova mentioned. “Will Ukraine repeat the destiny of Afghanistan? The helicopters did. American politicians are true to their phrases on this respect. The artwork of betraying their closest allies is of their political blood.”
Ukrainian officers, nevertheless, have expressed gratitude for Washington’s safety help, whereas persevering with to enchantment for extra subtle weaponry.
“President Biden has demonstrated true management in serving to [provide] help to Ukraine, in mobilizing [the] worldwide neighborhood to assist Ukraine,” Ukrainian Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba mentioned in current days.
The irony of utilizing Russian army gear in opposition to Moscow’s forces in Ukraine will not be misplaced on army specialists, a few of whom recommended the Mi-17s have been possible for use to better impact there than in Afghanistan.
“For as soon as, we’re handing over property to a authorities and army that’s able to utilizing them,” mentioned Jason Dempsey, a former Army officer who helped practice Afghan forces.
Army personnel in Ukraine, a former Soviet state, have extra expertise utilizing Russian helicopters than U.S. Chinooks or Black Hawks, mentioned Dempsey.
That consolation with Russian-made gear has resulted in different European international locations agreeing to offer key Soviet-era weapons that may be simply utilized by Ukrainians in battle. Slovakia, as an illustration, has agreed to ship its Russian-made S-300 antiaircraft missile protection system after Washington supplied to exchange it with a substitute battery of more-advanced Patriot missiles. The governments of Poland and the Czech Republic have supplied Russian-made T-72 tanks to Ukraine as nicely.
“The Russians have so flooded the world with low cost but dependable weapons that they’ve successfully armed each side within the warfare,” mentioned Jeremy Shapiro, director of analysis on the European Council on Overseas Relations.
The blowback stemming from such gross sales will not be unfamiliar to america, the world’s largest provider of arms, which has repeatedly fought opponents armed with U.S. weapons or equipped governments that later dedicated atrocities.
“While you promote somebody a hammer, you don’t know if it’s going for use to construct a home or break your window,” mentioned JJ Gertler, a senior analyst on the Teal Group consultancy.
Greg Jaffe, Missy Ryan, Karen DeYoung and Dan Lamothe contributed to this report.
