Moscow, Russia - Russia has reacted with clear annoyance to a US-Turkish arms deal for Ukraine, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova saying on Saturday that it would merely "delay the end of the Kyiv regime." 

She was quoted by the Russian state news agency TASS as saying that the US and Turkish authorities had thereby "opened yet another Pandora's box."

Just under a week ago, a notification from the US State Department to Congress revealed a major arms purchase by Ukraine from Turkey.

According to the notification, Kyiv is purchasing a substantial package of US-manufactured artillery weapons, which also includes 70 ATACMS missiles. 

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The deal – which consists exclusively of older-model weapons – also includes 12 M270 multiple rocket launchers, more than 2,500 227-millimeter artillery rockets containing cluster munitions, and 47,000 203-millimeter artillery shells containing cluster munitions.

The US government supports the deal, which is worth $283 million. It will be deemed authorized unless the Senate and House of Representatives object within 30 days.

According to information from Kyiv, the Russian armed forces have recently bolstered their capabilities with ballistic missiles from North Korea. At least two of these missiles have already been used against Ukraine.