UK announces package of ammunition for Ukraine worth $310 million
British Defence Secretary Grant Shapps (photo: Getty Images)
The UK government has decided to spend £245 million (approximately $310 million) over the next year to increase artillery reserves for the Armed Forces of Ukraine by purchasing and activating supply chains for shell production, according to the British government website.
The statement notes that the new funding package will replenish Ukraine's artillery ammunition stocks, which are critically important for conducting the war.
In London, it was pointed out that Ukraine has been particularly noted for its highly effective use of its artillery to conduct counter-battery fire – using drones and UK-supplied radar systems to quickly identify the locations of active Russian artillery and rapidly return fire to destroy them.
"Today’s £245 million announcement comes exactly two years to the day since Putin launched his illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine – with artillery having proved critical to Ukraine’s battlefield successes, continuously degrading Russia’s forces and preventing them from making significant breakthroughs," the release said.
London's defense aid for Ukraine
The UK government reminded that in an updated report to parliament on Thursday, Defense Minister Grant Shapps confirmed the delivery of an additional 200 Brimstone anti-tank missiles to Ukraine, bringing the total number provided to Ukraine to over 1300 units.
In addition to the artillery and missile funding package, a new multimillion-dollar series of contracts was signed between the UK Ministry of Defence's Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) procurement arm and British company Cook Defense Systems to supply hundreds of spare tank tracks for tanks and armored vehicles, the statement said.
It is noted that this will allow the Ukrainian Armed Forces to repair damaged equipment with anti-tank weapons and mines, and the contracts will involve a combination of funding from the UK and the International Fund for Ukraine.
Additionally, last week, UK Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced that the UK will continue to lead the international coalition to enhance capabilities for the supply of advanced unmanned aerial vehicles to Ukraine, alongside the international coalition for maritime capabilities announced in December.
Shortage of artillery shells in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
It should be noted that Ukrainian defenders are experiencing a shortage of artillery shells, which directly affects the situation on the front lines. In particular, recently, the Defense Forces had to withdraw from Avdiivka against the backdrop of a very difficult situation around the city.
Following this, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated that Kyiv would not have lost Avdiivka if allies had timely provided artillery shells.
On February 23, Foreign Minister Kuleba announced that Spain is preparing to provide Ukraine with new military aid, including ammunition.
On February 17, during the Munich Security Conference, Czech President Petr Pavel announced that his country had found 800,000 shells for Ukraine - half a million units of 155mm caliber ammunition and 300,000 units of 122mm caliber ammunition.
Recently, CBC News reported that Canada plans to provide funds for the Czech initiative to deliver a large quantity of artillery shells to Ukraine.
Earlier, military expert and former spokesman for the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Vladyslav Selezniov explained in a comment to RBC-Ukraine how Ukraine can solve the problem of ammunition shortages.
