UK to Provide Ukraine with 350 Air Defence Missiles to Counter Russian Attacks

Strategic Insights -

The UK government has announced that it will provide Ukraine with a package of 350 air defence missiles, funded by £70 million from seized Russian assets. The move comes as Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in The Hague for a critical NATO summit, where the crisis in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine will top the agenda. The security of Ukraine is vital to the security of the UK and the Euro-Atlantic area, and the UK's support for Ukraine will never waiver.

Key Takeaways:

  • The UK will provide Ukraine with 350 ASRAAM Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles, adapted by RAF engineers to be fired from the back of military trucks.
  • The missiles will be funded by £70 million from seized Russian assets.
  • The package includes air defence launchers to be used in conjunction with the missiles.
  • The move comes as NATO leaders convene in The Hague for a critical summit on the crisis in the Middle East and the war in Ukraine.
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will attend the summit on Wednesday to push for guarantees of further Western aid against Russia.
  • Civilian sites in Ukraine have been hit by Russian air attacks killing at least 24 civilians and injuring over 200 others.
  • The recent Russian ballistic missile attack on Dnipro killed 17 people and injured over 200 others, and damaged 19 schools, 10 kindergartens, and 8 medical facilities.
  • Schools in the region are currently closed for the summer holidays.
  • Russian forces also shelled residential neighbourhoods and critical infrastructure across Ukraine's southern Kherson region, killing four civilians and wounding at least 11 others.

Statistics:

  • 350 air defence missiles to be provided to Ukraine by the UK.
  • £70 million to be spent on funding the missiles from seized Russian assets.
  • At least 24 civilians killed in Russian air attacks on civilian sites in Ukraine.
  • Over 200 civilians injured in the same attacks.
  • 17 people killed and over 200 injured in the Russian ballistic missile attack on Dnipro.
  • 19 schools, 10 kindergartens, and 8 medical facilities damaged in the attack on Dnipro.
  • 4 civilians killed and at least 11 wounded in Russian shelling of residential neighbourhoods in Kherson region.

Sources:

  • The UK government press release: "UK to provide Ukraine with air defence missiles" (no date)
  • The Guardian: "Keir Starmer warns Putin at NATO summit: 'Stop attacks on Ukrainian people'" by Patrick Wintour (no date)
  • The Ukrainian government website: "President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the nation" (no date)
  • The United Nations website: "Humanitarian Response Plan for Ukraine" (February 2022)