Last week, the United States announced a military aid package for Ukrainian defense against Russia’s invasion. Among the weapons included in the package were 40,000 artillery rounds, 18 howitzers, and training to operate the heavy artillery weapons. An additional aid package including 144,000 artillery rounds and 72 howitzers was declared on Thursday, signaling U.S. commitment to Ukrainian defense and a reframing of military tactics.

A senior Department of Defense official, speaking to Reuters under the condition of anonymity, confirmed that approximately 50 Ukrainians would be trained in the operation of the howitzers. They also noted that the howitzer training would be conducted in an undisclosed location outside of Ukraine.

The artillery delivery and weapons training are not a novel development in the war in Ukraine. The United States has previously trained a small number of Ukrainian soldiers in the operation of Switchblade tactical drones, according to Pentagon press secretary John Kirby. 

The shift to heavy artillery implies a tactical shift for recent offensives in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Speaking with Al Jazeera, Harry Nedelcu, a policy director at political consultancy firm Rasmussen Global, described the Donbas region as “Flat land which requires heavy weaponry, such as howitzers and tanks.” Pentagon press secretary Kirby said the howitzers are intended to combat Russian artillery in the Donbas: “Because of the terrain, because it’s open because it’s flat because it’s not as urban ― we can expect the Russians to rely on long-range fires, artillery in particular.”

Heavy Russian artillery has contributed substantially to the destruction of Ukrainian urban spaces. In the past battle for Kyiv and the current siege of Mariupol, the destructive potential of heavy artillery has been showcased in destroyed Ukrainian homes, hospitals, train stations, and other non-military facilities. Ukraine’s obtaining of heavy artillery may escalate the war into an increased destructive phase.

Russia has previously warned the United States against supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine. However, the United States has continued to escalate its aid packages in defiance of Russian threats. The Washington Post reported that last week Russia warned of “Unpredictable consequences” if the United States and NATO continued to supply Ukraine with arms.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that five U.S. cargo flights have arrived in the region, with more than half a dozen expected to arrive shortly. 

The military aid packages to Ukraine, while assisting in defense of a nation against violent invasion, may also be an ineffective method of combating the war in Ukraine. For the military aid to prove effective, it must provide an advantage to Ukrainian forces to which Russian troops cannot respond. Russian military capabilities will likely enable a parallel escalation of Russian heavy artillery, leading to further stalemates but increased destruction. For an end to the war, military aid must be conclusive, or substantive negotiation efforts must be advanced.