United Kingdom announces most significant military aid package for Ukraine

The relevant statement was made by United Kingdom Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace in the House of Commons, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“Today, I can announce the most significant package of combat power to date to accelerate Ukrainian success,” Wallace said.

In his words, the new package will include a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks with armoured recovery and repair vehicles, eight AS90 guns (two further batteries at varying states of readiness), 100 armoured and protected vehicles (including Bulldog personnel carriers), a manoeuvre support package (including minefield breaching and bridging capabilities worth £28 million), dozens more uncrewed aerial systems worth £20 million to support Ukrainian artillery, 100,000 artillery rounds, hundreds more sophisticated missiles (including GMLRS rockets, Starstreak air defence missiles, and medium range air defence missiles), and an equipment support package of spares to refurbish up to 100 Ukrainian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles.

According to Wallace, the tanks and the AS90s will come from the United Kingdom’s stocks, along with their associated ammunition, and a significant number of the other donations will be purchased from the open market or from supportive third-party countries.

“Today’s package is an important increase in Ukraine’s capabilities. It means they can go from resisting to expelling Russian forces from Ukrainian soil,” Wallace noted.

A reminder that United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed his government’s decision to send Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine during a telephone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

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