- By Harrison Jones
- BBC News
The UK will send more air defence missiles to Ukraine after Russia launched a wave of air strikes overnight, the government has said.
The Ministry of Defence said about 200 weapons would be provided.
At least 28 people were killed after a wave of Russian strikes across the country, Ukrainian officials said.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said the package “sends an undeniable message” that Britain is “absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine”.
Mr Shapps branded the wave of attacks – which Ukraine’s military said comprised 158 missiles and drones targeting a number of cities simultaneously – “murderous”.
He suggested they were “a desperate and futile attempt to regain momentum after the catastrophic loss of hundreds of thousands of conscripts and ahead of the humiliation of his three-day war entering a third calendar year.”
The defence secretary said the package would restock UK-gifted air defence systems capable of striking down Russian drones and missiles with “incredible accuracy”.
The delivery is intended to protect civilians and infrastructure from drones and bombing.
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the UK has now supplied a squadron of battle-ready Challenger 2 tanks, three batteries of self-propelled AS90 guns, hundreds of armoured and protected vehicles, as well as long-range precision strike capability in the form of Storm Shadow cruise missiles and long-range attack drones.
Mr Shapps added: “Putin is testing Ukraine’s defences and the West’s resolve, hoping that he can clutch victory from the jaws of defeat. But he is wrong.
“Ukraine’s degradation of the Russian Black Sea fleet has proven it is still in this fight to win. And today’s air defence package sends an undeniable message, in the face of Russian barbarity that the UK remains absolutely committed to supporting Ukraine.”
He called on the West “to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win”.
Earlier, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on social media that the attacks showed Russian President Vladimir Putin would “stop at nothing to achieve his aim of eradicating freedom and democracy”.
He said the UK would “not let him win” and called for the country to “stand with Ukraine – for as long as it takes”.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
