Ukraine has made a new appeal to the United States for powerful drones and anti-drone missiles, hoping Washington will reverse its previous refusal.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, in a Nov. 2 letter, requested four MQ-1C Grey Eagle unmanned aerial systems or drones, and in a separate document requested an anti-drone missile for the first time, Reuters reported.

The drones cost about $10 million each and the AGM-114L or LONGBOW missiles will strengthen Ukraine's civilian air defense and help counter Russia's growing use of Iranian-made kamikaze drones away from the front lines.

The United States rejected Kyiv's previous request for the drones, fearing that they might be shot down and that Ukraine did not need them for military operations and might escalate the conflict. But Ukraine hopes its latest move will change Washington's mind because it was related to the LONGBOW request and aimed at protecting civilians and infrastructure.

Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. Garron Garn declined to comment on specific Ukrainian requests.