(MENAFN) Australia unveiled a fresh military assistance package for Ukraine on Thursday, allocating AUD 95 million (around $62.7 million) while simultaneously expanding sanctions on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” According to general reports, acting Prime Minister and Defense Minister Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong detailed the plan in a joint announcement.

The new package includes an AUD 50 million ($33 million) contribution to the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a NATO program designed to provide Ukraine with urgently needed military supplies. Marles stated, "Australia is unwavering in its support for Ukraine.
These commitments will make a tangible difference in Ukraine's defense against Russia's illegal and immoral invasion."

As part of the same initiative, Australia added sanctions on 45 additional vessels connected to Russia’s “shadow fleet,” raising the total number of sanctioned ships to 200.

Since the conflict began, Australia’s overall support for Ukraine has surpassed AUD 1.7 billion (approximately $1.12 billion), with over AUD 1.5 billion (about $980 million) directed specifically toward military assistance. The statement noted that the last shipment of 49 M1A1 Abrams tanks donated by Australia is expected to arrive within the next several weeks.

In a related development, Japan announced on Wednesday that it will provide $25.7 million in grant aid to Ukraine to help address the dangerous proliferation of land mines. According to general accounts, Japan’s ambassador to Ukraine, Masashi Nakagome, and Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Ihor Klymenko formalized the agreement on Tuesday in Kyiv.

Japan’s Foreign Ministry explained, "This cooperation aims to facilitate Ukraine's early recovery from war damage, including landmine contamination, by providing equipment and materials for landmine and unexploded ordnance clearance, medical treatment, and care for victims of explosive devices."

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