According to Ukrinform, this was stated in a press release by the UK Ministry of Defence.
“In the fifth year of Putin’s brutal war, the UK is stepping up further and providing the highest ever number of drones for Ukraine this year,” said UK Defence Secretary John Healey.
The press release notes that the new package, the largest of its kind ever supplied by the UK,will include thousands of long-range strike drones, intelligence and reconnaissance drones, logistics drones and maritime capabilities, which are all battle-proven on Ukraine’s frontline. Deliveries are set to begin this month.
As part of support for British industry, most of the funding will be spent through UK-based companies, including Tekever, Windracers and Malloy Aeronautics. This is expected to create new jobs in the UK while helping to safeguard Ukraine’s security and sovereignty.
Healey emphasized that this large batch of battle-proven drones will provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with capability “they need to defend their people and fight back against Russian aggression.”
“With eyes on the Middle East in recent weeks, Putin wants us to be distracted, but Ukrainians continue to fight with huge courage and nothing will distract us from continuing to stand with them for as long as it takes to secure peace,” he added.
Read also: UK PM Starmer: Middle East war must not become windfall for PutinThe new drone package is funded as part of the UK’s broader £3 billion military support program for Ukraine this year, along with additional resources from the ERA initiative. Healey also confirms that the UK will supply Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of artillery shells and thousands of air defense missiles this year.
As previously reported by Ukrinform, in December, the UK committed £600 million worth of air defense systems to help protect Ukrainians from Russian strikes during the winter months.
