Space Industry and Business News
MILTECH
UK and Australia to supply military equipment to Kyiv
UK and Australia to supply military equipment to Kyiv
by AFP Staff Writers
London (AFP) Dec 19, 2024

Britain on Thursday unveiled a package of GBP 225 million ($286 million) in new military aid to Ukraine for next year, including drones, boats and air defence systems.

The move came after the UK's Defence Secretary John Healey visited Kyiv on Wednesday, holding talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov and vowing to step up British support to Ukraine in 2025.

Three years since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion of Ukraine "the depths of his miscalculation are clearer than ever, as the brave people of Ukraine continue to defy all expectations with their unbreakable spirit," Healey said.

"But they cannot go it alone," Healey added, vowing the UK's support for Kyiv was "ironclad" and Britain would always stand "shoulder to shoulder to ensure Putin cannot win".

In July, the new Labour government vowed to commit GBP 3 billion a year in military aid to Ukraine until 2030-2031.

The new package will include GBP 92 million for equipment to bolster Ukraine's navy, including small boats, reconnaissance drones and uncrewed surface vessels, the defence ministry said in a statement.

A further GBP 68 million will be used for air defence equipment including radars, and 1,000 counter-drone electronic warfare systems at a cost of GBP 39 million would be supplied to the Ukrainian army.

Healey said the UK would also boost a training programme for Ukrainian soldiers run with key allies on British soil known as Operation Interflex, under which 51,000 recruits have been trained since mid-2022.

"With Putin resorting to sending as many as 2,000 Russian soldiers to their deaths on the battlefield each day, it is critical that Ukraine is supported with a supply of properly trained and equipped soldiers," the ministry statement said.

Healey suggested to The Times daily that UK troops could also be sent to the country to help train Ukrainian forces.

Britain needed to "make the training a better fit for what the Ukrainians need", he said, raising the possibility of training to take place in Ukraine rather than Britain as previously.

Asked directly if this meant training Ukrainian troops in Ukraine, he said: "We will look wherever we can to respond to what the Ukrainians want. They are the ones fighting."

Umerov thanked the UK for its new package of support and said in a statement that the "stable delivery of ammunition, especially for artillery, is critically important for our defence efforts".

He added the two men had reviewed the results of the use of Storm Shadow missiles, without providing details.

London gave Kyiv the green light to launch the UK-supplied, long-range missiles into Russia for the first time in November.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was due to meet NATO chief Mark Rutte and key European leaders in Brussels late Wednesday to strategise over Russia's war ahead of Donald Trump's return to power in the United States.

Western backers are seeking to shore up Ukraine's forces as Kyiv's fatigued troops are losing ground across the frontline and Moscow has deployed North Koreans to the battlefield.

Ukraine asks Australia for more weapons, aid
Kyiv, Ukraine (AFP) Dec 18, 2024 - Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga on Wednesday urged Australia to beef up its military support to help Kyiv's armed forces fight off Russia's advancing troops.

He was speaking at a press conference with his Australian counterpart Penny Wong, who was on a visit to the country fighting off Russia's invasion for almost three years.

Canberra has provided Kyiv with 120 Bushmaster armoured personal carriers, which are designed to withstand the impact of land mines and improvised explosive devices.

"The situation on the battlefield remains very difficult and the need to strengthen our troops remains extremely urgent. That is why today I have requested additional military support, including Australia's famous Bushmasters and other weapons," Sybiga said.

Wong said: "I have heard my friend's requests for further assistance, and obviously, I will take those requests back to Australia."

Ukraine has been struggling on the front lines against better-equipped Russian troops, now reinforced by North Korean soldiers.

Wong called Russian President Vladimir Putin a "coward" who had "sunk to new lows in inviting North Korea to cooperate".

She announced Australia would contribute an additional $66 million in funding to the European Bank of Reconstruction and Development for Ukraine, as well as $10 million for Ukraine's energy sector, devastated by systematic Russian bombardment.

Canberra's top diplomat also said that the Australian embassy in Kyiv would reopen from next month.

Related Links
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MILTECH
US announces nearly $1 bn in new military aid for Ukraine
Washington (AFP) Dec 7, 2024
The United States on Saturday announced a new $988 million security assistance package for Ukraine as Washington races to provide aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes office. Trump's November election victory has cast doubt on the future of American aid for Ukraine, providing a limited window for billions of dollars in already authorized assistance to be disbursed before he is sworn in next month. The package features drones, ammunition for precision HIMARS rocket launchers, and ... read more

MILTECH
University of Texas at San Antonio establishes center for advancing space technology

Astroscale's ADRAS-J demonstrates key 15-meter proximity to space debris

AI startup Databricks raises $10 bn as value soars

New type of quasiparticle discovered in magnetic materials

MILTECH
SpaceRISE to develop and operate Europe's IRIS2 connectivity network under new EU contract

ESA to support development of secure EU communications satellite constellation

EU, ESA sign contracts to build communication satellite constellation

IRIS2 contract signed to strengthen Europe's space connectivity and security

MILTECH
MILTECH
SpaceX launches Space Force Rapid Response Trailblazer

GPS alternative for drone navigation leverages celestial data

Deciphering city navigation AI advances GNSS error detection

China advances next-generation BeiDou satellite navigation system

MILTECH
Atmospheric Probe Shows Promise in Test Flight

Uncrewed aircraft systems traffic management expands beyond line of sight

UK, Italy, Japan to develop next-generation fighter jet

U.S., South Korea to flex aerial might during May airshow

MILTECH
Frontgrade Gaisler leads European effort for advanced space semiconductor technology

SK Hynix to get $458 mn funding for US chip facilities

Precise control of quantum states with extreme ultraviolet lasers

Bringing the power of tabletop precision lasers for quantum science to the chip scale

MILTECH
Climate change made Cyclone Chido stronger: scientists

Introducing Wherobots Raster Inference to unleash innovation with Earth imagery

SatVu secures ESA funding for high-resolution thermal imaging project in energy sector

NASA studies crops, forest response to changing rainfall patterns

MILTECH
Russian oil spill contaminates 50km of Black Sea beaches

EU countries back stricter rules to curb microplastics pollution

Japan inspects US air base over chemical spill

Somalia struggles to rid itself of plastic despite ban

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.