UK to speed up delivery of missiles to counter jet-powered drones in Ukraine

Khrystyna Bondarieva , Alona Mazurenko - 14 October, 09:10

An LMM (Martlet) surface-to-air missile. Photo: Forces.net

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive in the UK on 14 October as London plans to speed up deliveries of Lightweight Multirole Missiles (LMMs) used to shoot down Russian jet-powered drones.

Source: the UK government, as reported by European Pravda

Details: The visit comes as the UK steps up its support for Ukraine, including by supplying £45 million worth of air defence missiles and pressing ahead with plans to fully implement a ban on maritime services for Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports.

According to the government, the UK will accelerate deliveries of its British-made LMMs, which have proved highly effective against jet-powered drones.

The UK has already committed £1.6 billion to supply Ukraine with more than 5,000 LMMs over the next four years. From the £45 million missile package, London will bring forward £10 million worth of weapons to meet Ukraine's most urgent needs ahead of winter.

"Our rock-solid support to Ukraine is vital for keeping us safe here in the UK and ensuring those on the front lines have the equipment they need to push back Russia. My message to the Ukrainian people could not be clearer, we are with you for as long as it takes, and we will go further and faster in our support to back your courageous fight for peace in Europe," UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham said.

Burnham has also instructed ministers to prepare additional sanctions, military aid packages and financial support to provide Ukraine with urgent assistance over the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, John Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer, will urge London's partners to introduce a similar ban on Russian LNG in full, following the UK's example, during meetings on the sidelines of the International Monetary Fund's gathering in Bangkok. The foreign secretary made the same address to the UK's partners at the Warsaw Security Forum on 13 October.

Background:

On 10 October, Zelenskyy and Burnham agreed to hold a bilateral meeting in the coming days to discuss maintaining sanctions pressure on Russia.
Meanwhile, the UK has acknowledged that US President Donald Trump's diesel deal has complicated relations with Ukraine's allies.

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