From generators and sonars to tanks and drones: What assistance Ukraine received from UK

During the preparation of the material, statements from former and current British officials, representatives of the Ukrainian government, materials from Army Recognition, the Institute for the Study of War, the Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, and the British Embassy in Ukraine were used.

Contents

• Military assistance
• Energy support
• Assistance in the civil sector

Military assistance

London began providing military support to Kyiv on the eve of full-scale war. At that time, Ukraine received portable anti-tank guided missiles NLAW for the first time. It was about 2000 units, which was significant support at the time. Later, they played an important role in halting the advancement of Russians in February-March 2022.

In April 2022, then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced the transfer of armored vehicles, specifically MRAP-class armored vehicles, to Ukraine. Such vehicles were crucial as they allowed military personnel to quickly move from position to position.

Within a short period of time, Ukraine received its first artillery from Britain, namely AS-90 artillery systems. The aid package also included FV4333 Stormer armored personnel carriers, portable anti-aircraft missile complexes Starstreak, and Brimstone air-to-ground missiles.

Later, Ukraine received from Britain its first multiple-launch rocket system M270, M109 howitzers, L118 guns, and Black Hornet Nano drones. The new Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, announced the transfer of Sikorsky S-61 Sea King helicopters to Ukraine, and last year London decided to provide its Challenger 2 tanks.

They were used during the summer counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region, and the military personnel speak highly of this type of equipment. Ukrainian forces utilize heavy British drones Malloy, which London handed over last year. They can carry payloads of up to 180 kg over a distance of 70 km.

In May, it became known that Ukraine would receive long-range air-launched cruise missiles Storm Shadow from Britain. They have already been used to strike military targets in occupied Crimea.

At the end of last year, UK Secretary of State for Defense Grant Shapps announced the transfer of two minehunters to Ukraine, which will assist with demining operations in the Black Sea. In January 2024, Rishi Sunak visited Kyiv and met with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign a treaty between Britain and Ukraine. This treaty concerns security guarantees, and moreover, Britain became the first country to sign such a treaty with Ukraine after the NATO summit in Vilnius.

Recently, Britain allocated the largest military aid package to Ukraine, totaling $617 million. In February, the Institute for the Study of War reported that the United Kingdom had promised to allocate $9 billion in military aid since the start of the major war.

Energy support

Britain is also assisting Ukraine in restoring and strengthening its energy sector. Support began as early as 2022 when Russian forces started targeting critical infrastructure in various regions of Ukraine.

At that time, Ben Wallace stated that his country had sent approximately 900 generators to Ukraine. Last summer, it became known that Britain provided guarantees to Ukraine for the purchase of nuclear fuel worth $245 million.

After the damage to part of its energy infrastructure, Ukraine became more dependent on nuclear power plants. Therefore, Secretary Grant Shapps announced that London would help Ukraine obtain nuclear fuel from reliable sources. The Minister clarified that this includes, among other things, the British company Urenco, which produces enriched uranium.

This year, Ukrainian Minister of Energy Herman Halushchenko held a meeting with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Kingdom to Ukraine, Martin Harris. It was then announced that London allocated just over 27 million euros to support Ukraine's energy sector. Specifically, Halushchenko thanked the British representative for 81 shipments of energy equipment totaling 1250 tons.

Recently, a British representative to the OSCE stated that his country has allocated nearly £150 million to strengthen Ukraine's energy sector.

Assistance in the civil sector

London supports Ukraine in humanitarian as well as civil sectors. In the spring of 2022, then British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss announced the allocation of £45 million to UN structures assisting civilians in Ukraine.

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine reported receiving a batch of emergency aid and clarified that it regularly receives humanitarian assistance from Britain.

In 2023, Russian forces detonated the dam of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant, leading to a technological disaster in Ukraine. Britain shipped aid, which was utilized to mitigate the consequences of the flooding.

Photo: Britain delivers aid to mitigate the consequences of flooding caused by the detonation of the Kakhovka Hydroelectric Power Plant (t.me/dsns_telegram)

After some time, the government of Britain reported the transfer of sonars to Ukraine, aimed at enhancing maritime security and supporting commercial shipping.

At the end of last year, London Mayor Sadiq Khan initially declined his Kyiv counterpart Vitali Klitschko's request for vehicles that British authorities were disposing of. However, he later changed his mind and stated support for sending four-wheel-drive vehicles to Ukraine, which would otherwise have been scrapped as scrap metal.

In April of this year, Britain delivered a batch of vehicles to Ukraine, intended for use in the frontline communities of the Sumy, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions. These vehicles are needed for transporting water, food, medicine, and people to administrative service centers.

Photo: Vehicles from Britain (twitter.com/UKinUkraine)