UK pledges winter air defence package to boost Ukraine's defences

• The UK commits £100 million to air defence package including Patriot missiles to help Ukraine defend against Putin’s attacks.

• Defence Secretary chairs his first Ukraine Defence Contact Group, the 50-nation strong group providing military kit for Ukraine.

• Builds on recent UK backing of Ukraine’s domestic production of long-range missiles and landmark AI deal to boost military capabilities.

The UK will supply air defence interceptors, large-calibre artillery rounds and drones to help Ukraine defend itself against barbaric Russian attacks this winter, as part of Britain’s commitment to help Ukraine defend its freedom and sovereignty.

Through a £100 million contribution to NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) the UK will support Ukraine with Patriot missiles and other air defence equipment that will be delivered before the winter, helping Ukraine defend its critical national infrastructure, innocent civilians and armed forces from Russian attacks. This follows the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary’s visits to Kyiv, where they heard from President Zelenskyy on the importance of additional support going into the winter.

Britain’s commitment to provide over 120,000 drones to Ukraine this year continues, with 25,000 delivered to date, a figure set to ramp up ahead of the winter. These include interceptors that take out Russian drones, reconnaissance drones that enable the Armed Forces of Ukraine to see what is happening on the battlefield and behind enemy lines, as well as attack drones that help Ukraine take the fight to Russia.

This comes as military support for Ukraine reaches another milestone, with the UK recently delivering its millionth round of large-calibre artillery ammunition to Ukraine, vital to its defence against Putin’s war. Building on this, the UK will deliver tens of thousands of long-range artillery rounds in the coming months with funding from Britain, Germany, Denmark, Lithuania, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden.

Defence Secretary Wes Streeting MP said:

Both the Prime Minister and I heard loud and clear on our first visits to Kyiv the importance of supporting Ukraine through this winter, as Putin prepares to use winter as a weapon by continuing barbaric attacks against civilian and energy targets.

We promised to mobilise allies and provide more support wherever we can. Today, we are delivering on that, strengthening Ukraine’s defences and, alongside 50 allies, converting commitment into capability.

We will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine until they win. Ukraine’s frontline is the frontline for freedom everywhere and our support will not waver.

This military support follows the Prime Minister’s announcement that the UK has agreed that defence firm MBDA can release classified information on UK components for the long-range missile, SCALP, also known as Storm Shadow, to establish local assembly lines in Ukraine.

The Prime Minister recently travelled to Kyiv to meet President Zelenskyy and sign a landmark AI deal that will see the two countries join forces to develop new military capabilities and the technology of the future. 

Today’s Ukraine Defence Contact Group co-chaired by the Defence Secretary and his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, brings together nearly 50 nations. Taking place for the 36th time, it focuses on Ukraine’s urgent battlefield requirements and helps to sustain long-term military support for Ukraine.