UK Announces More Weapons for Ukraine – Britain’s Ministry of Defence announced this week that “scored of artillery guns” and “hundreds of drones” will be gifted to Ukraine as part of a new package designed to push back Russian forces making advances in Ukraine’s Donbas region.
In a statement, the British government revealed plans to send 50,000 artillery shells and hundreds of additional anti-tank weapons to Ukraine in just a matter of weeks.
“More than 20 M109 155mm self-propelled guns and 36 L119 105mm artillery guns will soon arrive from the UK, Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced in an update to Parliament today,” a statement reads.
“Counter-battery radar systems and more than 50,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine’s existing Soviet-era artillery will also follow, he added.”
According to the statement, the new equipment will “bolster the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s indiscriminate use of artillery.”
The news comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the Russian military of conducting a series of “terrorist” attacks in Ukraine, following a series of strikes that killed dozens of civilians.
Wallace also reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to helping Ukraine defend its borders in the long term, stating that the scale and the range of equipment being sent to Ukraine demonstrate the British government’s level of support.
“The scale and range of equipment we are providing demonstrates the strength of our resolve,” Wallace said. “Together with our international partners, we will ensure Ukraine has the tools to defend their country from Putin’s illegal invasion.”
British Training Program for Ukrainian Soldiers
The news also follows a major training operation for Ukrainian soldiers that was revealed in June when outgoing British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited Ukraine.
Roughly 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers arrived in the United Kingdom this month for training designed to make troops more familiar with NATO-standard equipment and weapons.
The British Ministry of Defence confirmed that the first group of soldiers met Defence Secretary Ben Wallace at the beginning of July, and that 1,050 British soldiers were deployed to oversee the program. The training took place at undisclosed locations across the southeast, southwest, and northwest regions of the United Kingdom.
Soldiers with little to no military experience were given the training to make them more effective when fighting on the frontline, as well as training on weapons handling, battlefield first aid, and patrol tactics. The training program was a significant shift in strategy for NATO countries providing aid and support to Ukraine, with training previously only taking place on NATO’s eastern flank on the borders of Ukraine.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
