UK to send anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine after wave of Russian rocket attacks

13 October 2022, 00:56

The UK is sending anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine
The UK is sending anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine. Picture: Alamy

By Emma Soteriou

The UK is set to send anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine to help defend its skies against Russian attacks, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has announced.

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The Amraam rockets are the first donated by Britain that are capable of shooting down cruise missiles.

It is hoped the new air-defence missiles will help protect Ukrainian infrastructure after Moscow launched a wave of deadly missile and drone attacks on the country's cities and power plants this week.

Vladimir Putin and his forces were subsequently accused of war crimes by the UK and G7 allies, who vowed to "continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military, diplomatic and legal support and... stand firmly with Ukraine for as long as it takes".

The shift in the Kremlin's strategy to attacks on civilian areas and infrastructure came in retaliation for an explosion that damaged the strategically and symbolically important Kerch Bridge, linking Russia to the annexed Crimean peninsula.

The UK and other Western governments are shipping new weapons systems to Ukraine or gearing up to provide more help.

The Amraam rockets will be delivered in the coming weeks to be used with the Nasams air-defence systems pledged by the United States, the Ministry of Defence said.

Read more: Russian soldier 'set up a stolen CCTV camera from Ukraine in his flat' - unwittingly creating 'his own Big Brother'

Read more: Russian state TV blames Ukraine’s OWN air defence systems after civilians killed in missile onslaught

'should the west now change it's approach to supplying heavy weaponry to Ukraine'

The latest package of UK equipment also includes hundreds of other air defence missiles and aerial drones, as well as a further 18 howitzer artillery guns. D

efence Secretary Mr Wallace said: "Russia's latest indiscriminate strikes on civilian areas in Ukraine warrant further support to those seeking to defend their nation. So today I have authorised the supply of Amraam anti-aircraft missiles to Ukraine.

"These weapons will help Ukraine defend its skies from attacks and strengthen their overall missile defence alongside the US Nasams."

Nato defence ministers discussed additional support for Ukraine in Brussels on Wednesday, with further talks due on Thursday.

Britain will also give £10 million to the military alliance's funding package to help provide humanitarian assistance to Ukraine including winter clothes, shelters, generators, fuel trucks and ambulances.

The UK has previously supplied Kyiv with various weapons, including the NLAW anti-tank missile launcher, which was considered instrumental in the initial defence against Moscow's invasion.

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