UK provides Ukraine with more weapons as soldiers in Kyiv prepare to fight

Britain is sending more weapons to Ukraine to help in the defensive effort against Russia’s invasion, the Defence Secretary has told MPs.

Ben Wallace said Vladimir Putin’s forces are ‘changing their tactics and so the Ukrainians need to too’, with the UK exploring the possible donation of Starstreak portable anti-air missiles.

He also confirmed 3,615 anti-tank weapons, known as NLAWs, have been delivered, and will shortly be followed by a ‘small consignment’ of Javelin anti-tank missiles.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mr Wallace highlighted the ‘horrific devastation’ inflicted on civilian areas by Russian artillery and air strikes, describing it as ‘indiscriminate and murderous’.

He told MPs: ‘It is vital that Ukraine maintains its ability to fly and to suppress Russian air attack.

‘To date the international community has donated over 900 manned portable air defence missiles and thousands of anti-tank guided weapons of varying type, as well as various small arms.

‘But the capability needs strengthening.

‘So, in response to a Ukrainian request, the Government has taken the decision to explore the donation of Starstreak high-velocity manned portable anti-air missiles.

‘We believe that this system will remain within the definition of defensive weapons but will allow the Ukrainian force to better defend their skies.

‘We shall also be increasing the supplies of rations, medical equipment and other non-lethal military aid.’

Ukraine’s general staff of the armed forces said in a statement that it was bolstering defences in cities in the north, south and east.

Forces around Kyiv were resisting the Russian offensive with unspecified strikes and ‘holding the line’, it added.

Members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Forces have been getting to grips with the weaponry in preparation for a Russian assault on the capital while civilians fled.

Residents awoke there on Wednesday to the sound of back-to-back sirens urging them to get to a bomb shelter amid fears of an imminent missile attack.

Such alerts are intermittent, keeping people on edge. The city has been relatively quiet in recent days, though Russian artillery has pounded the outskirts.

Kyiv regional administration head Oleksiy Kuleba said the crisis for civilians was growing in the capital, with the situation particularly critical in the city’s suburbs.

He said: ‘Russia is artificially creating a humanitarian crisis in the Kyiv region, frustrating the evacuation of people and continuing shelling and bombing small communities.’

Earlier, Mr Wallace stressed the Government is ‘bound by the decision to supply defensive systems’ and not escalate the war.

He later told MPs a no-fly zone could hamper Ukrainian efforts to deal with Russian artillery and missiles.

Mr Wallace said: ‘At the moment the balance is I don’t think it suits actually the Ukrainian disposition given the amounts of heavy armour and missiles in the Russian stocks.

‘If you had a no-fly zone, the Russians have a massive advantage with shells and missiles and they would not stop in a no-fly zone, whereas the few things that the Ukrainians have to reach the Russians at depth are in the air and I think you’d actually hamper one.’

Labour former minister Hilary Benn asked about the donation of Polish jets to Ukraine and questioned if it would be considered a defensive system.

Mr Wallace said: ‘I think it depends on how you use aircraft. If you are close air support to Kyiv then it’s obviously defensive, if you’re seeking to enter another sovereign territory, like the Russian air force, then it’s not; I think that is important to recognise.

‘I think it’s a deeply bilateral decision for those countries but as a friend and ally of Poland we will stand by their decision.’

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