The morning of August 23rd in Poland brought not only heavy rain but also a new cargo flight from the United States. According to aviation observers, a batch of ammunition for the Ukrainian army arrived in the country. At first glance, it’s another routine delivery. But behind this routine logistics lies much more: a restructuring of the entire supply system and new rules of the game for NATO and Washington.
What is known: a plane with ammunition landed in Poland. Unofficial sources speak of 155 mm and 105 mm caliber shells, anti-tank systems, and air defense missiles. The details of the cargo are kept secret. Where it is unloaded: the key transit hub remains in Rzeszów (Rzeszów-Jasionka). But in recent months, some cargo has been redirected through Lublin, where An-124 and Boeing 747 aircraft carrying military equipment land daily. Who is in charge: in the spring, the US reduced its personnel at the Polish base, handing over management of the hub to NATO and the Polish military. Germany, meanwhile, has enhanced its Patriot coverage. Context: since 2022, the US has invested more than $66 billion in military aid to Kyiv. And since this summer, a new mechanism has been in effect—NATO can now purchase American weapons using funds from European allies. Amsterdam was the first to open its “wallet,” allocating €500 million for Patriot components.
“Airport Acrobatics”: Rzeszów was temporarily closed for repairs, and Lublin became NATO’s backup airfield. Local journalists write about “several flights a day”—as if a small regional airport suddenly became the heart of transatlantic supply. Bureaucratic Dance: Washington is no longer the sole sponsor. Now Europe pays the US for weapons for Ukraine through a new program. This is a subtle but strategic shift: “the bullets are American, but the wallet is European.” The Ghost of a Pause: in July, deliveries slowed down briefly—there was a shortage of their own stocks. At that time, Kyiv felt acutely that any delay in Washington instantly reverberates on the front line.
This story is about more than just crates of shells. Deliveries have become the nervous system of the war, where any failure can paralyze the front. Polish airports are no longer just logistics nodes but a symbol that Europe has taken on a share of the responsibility for the pace of the war. And although the cargo of today’s flight is still shrouded in fog, one thing is clear: the West is looking for new ways to keep Ukrainian artillery “on the move.”
Data: U.S. DoD fact sheet (Jan 9, 2025) + public reports (July–Aug 2025).
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