Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sought to reassure Ukraine of continuing American support, announcing a $2 billion arms deal, most of it from a package approved last month.

By Sunday afternoon, the town of Vovchansk, with a prewar population of 17,000, emerged as a focal point in the battle.

Russia’s recent push in Kharkiv also seeks to exploit ammunition shortages before promised Western supplies can reach the front lin, and pin down Ukrainian forces in the northeast.

Outgunned, Ukraine’s troops have struggled to fend off Russian advances on the battlefield.

The new funding – the largest tranche of USAI aid sent to date – also includes the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, as well as Switchblade and Puma drones, counter-drone systems and artillery.