MainNews -

Johnson announces new defence aid package for Ukraine

It is worth $63.5m.

Johnson announces new defence aid package for Ukraine
Photo: EPA/UPG

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a new £54 million ($63.5 million) defence support package for Ukraine.

During a solidarity visit to Kiev, the British prime minister said that Ukraine "can and will win this war", according to the UK Government website.

The package includes including unmanned surveillance and anti-tank loitering munitions requested by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"This package of unmanned air systems will be a step up in the Ukrainian’s current capability, improving their long-range surveillance and defensive targeting ability," the website reads.

It includes 850 hand launched Black Hornet micro-drones, which are specifically designed for use in towns and villages, and are deployed to detect approaching enemy forces.

Military personnel can be trained to fly the helicopter drones, which are smaller than a mobile phone, in under 20 minutes. Each drone feeds back live video and still images to allow forces on the ground to defend urban areas safely.

"Today’s package of support will give the brave and resilient Ukrainian Armed Forces another boost in capability, allowing them to continue to push back Russian forces and fight for their freedom," Johnson said.

The prime minister reiterated the UK’s all-encompassing and unwavering support for the Ukrainian people, from humanitarian aid to supporting the investigation of war crimes and rebuilding the country’s economy.

Today’s £54 million military package comes as the UK also prepares to give minehunting vehicles to Ukraine to help detect Russian mines in the waters off its coast. Ukrainian personnel will be trained how to use them in UK waters in the coming weeks.

Partners contributing expertise and trainers to the rapidly expanding programme include Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, The Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Sweden and Lithuania.

The UK has also helped to drive continued international momentum on funding for defensive lethal aid to Ukraine. Since the Prime Minister announced an additional £1 billion to provide military aid to Ukraine at NATO in June, a further £1.2 bn worth of financial pledges from allies were secured for Ukraine at the Copenhagen Conference, co-hosted by the UK and Denmark earlier this month.

The UK has committed more than £2.3bn of military and financial aid to Ukraine since the invasion began in February.

Read LB.ua news on social networks Facebook, Twitter and Telegram