The UK will provide air defence interceptors, large-calibre artillery ammunition and drones to Ukraine as part of a new package aimed at supporting the country’s defence capabilities through the winter.
The UK will contribute £100 million to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL). The funding will support the provision of Patriot missiles and other air defence equipment, with deliveries planned before winter.
The equipment is intended to help Ukraine protect critical national infrastructure, civilians and its armed forces from Russian attacks.
The announcement follows recent visits to Kyiv by the UK Prime Minister and Defence Secretary, during which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the need for additional support ahead of the winter.
UK Drone Support for Ukraine
The UK is continuing its commitment to provide more than 120,000 drones to Ukraine during the year.
According to the UK government, 25,000 drones have been delivered so far, with deliveries expected to increase ahead of winter.
The drones include interceptor drones, designed to counter Russian drones, as well as reconnaissance drones used to provide battlefield and rear-area surveillance. The package also includes attack drones.
Artillery Ammunition Deliveries
UK military support for Ukraine has also passed another milestone, with the delivery of the millionth round of large-calibre artillery ammunition to the country.
The UK will also support the delivery of tens of thousands of long-range artillery rounds over the coming months. Funding for these deliveries is being provided by the UK, Germany, Denmark, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.
UK Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the latest support reflects commitments made following his and the Prime Minister’s visits to Kyiv and is intended to strengthen Ukraine’s defences ahead of winter.
He also said the UK would continue working with its allies to provide military support to Ukraine.
SCALP and Storm Shadow Cooperation
The latest military support follows a UK government announcement that defence company MBDA has been authorised to release classified information relating to UK components of the SCALP long-range missile, also known as Storm Shadow.
The information is intended to support efforts to establish local assembly lines for the missile in Ukraine.
The UK Prime Minister also recently visited Kyiv, where the UK and Ukraine signed an agreement focused on artificial intelligence and the development of future military capabilities and technologies.
Ukraine Defence Contact Group
The latest announcement comes as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group continues its work to coordinate military assistance.
Co-chaired by the UK and German defence ministers, the group brings together nearly 50 countries and focuses on Ukraine’s immediate battlefield requirements as well as longer-term military support.
