Britain is scrambling 200 air defence missiles to Ukraine after Vladimir Putin’s “murderous” missile and drone bombing blitz.
Defence Secretary Grant Shapps declared the latest military aid sends an “undeniable message” that the UK will continue supporting Kyiv.
Mr Shapps said Ukrainian troops will be able to use the Advanced Short Range Air-to-Air Missiles (ASRAAM) to shoot down Russian weapons with “incredible accuracy”.
Russia on Thursday launched 122 missiles and 36 drones against Ukrainian targets, killing at least 20 civilians in what military officials said was the biggest aerial barrage of the 22-month war.
The Ukrainian air force intercepted 87 of the missiles and 27 of the Shahed-type drones overnight, Ukraine’s military chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi said.
Air force commander Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on his official Telegram channel that it had been “the most massive aerial attack” since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Within hours, the Ministry of Defence confirmed it is sending Ukraine another 200 ASRAAM missiles.
Defence Secretary, Grant Shapps said: “Putin’s latest wave of murderous airstrikes are 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.
“We continue to stand by Ukraine’s defence, which is why today we are sending hundreds of air defence missiles to restock British gifted air defence systems capable of striking down Russian drones and missiles with incredible accuracy.
“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.
“Now is the time for the free world to come together and redouble our efforts to get Ukraine what they need to win.”
They will be fired from specially designed ground air defence systems.
Previously, the ASRAAM missiles were only designed to be fired from fighter jets.
But British scientists “developed, manufactured and trialled” new air defence systems that could fire the missiles from the ground within just four months.
