NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg and Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace RAF Northolt 09112022 CREDIT MOD Crown Copyright — Defence Secretary Ben Wallace made the announcement while visiting training sites alongside the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Picture: MOD Crown Copyright).

Weapons and Kit

UK to provide 1,000 extra surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine

The UK is sending about 1,000 extra surface-to-air missiles to the Ukrainian armed forces, it has been announced.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said the delivery of the weapons will shortly be completed.

The additional kit comes in response to Ukrainian requests for more air defence capabilities amid continued Russian targeting of civilian infrastructure.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) did not specify the exact weapons being sent but said the missiles can be used in conjunction with Ukraine's existing military capabilities.

The equipment consists of launchers and missiles capable of shooting down air targets, including Russian drones and cruise missiles, the MOD added.

Earlier this week, a report from defence and security think tank RUSI warned Ukraine is in danger of running out of the weapons it needs to combat Russian air attacks.

Mr Wallace made the announcement as he visited two training sites where more than 7,400 Ukrainian recruits have been trained by UK forces alongside partner nations.

He was joined by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and his counterparts from the Joint Expeditionary Force nations as he visited the sites.

NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, at Lydd Camp as Ukrainian recruits trainin 09112022 CREDIT MOD CROWN — The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg, during site visit where he was shown how Ukrainian recruits are being trained in mine clearence and basic life saving skills (Picture: MOD Crown Copyright).

Currently, 1,900 Ukrainian recruits are in the UK taking part in the training programme and will soon return to their home country.

Once training is complete, they are provided with items including combat clothing, body armour and ear defence, waterproofs and sleeping bags.

Recruits are also receiving first aid kits and will now be provided with extreme cold weather kits following an announcement by the Prime Minister earlier on Wednesday.

Temperatures can sink to below -20°C in parts of Ukraine during the winter.

Brigadier Justin Stenhouse, Commander of the UK's basic training for Ukrainian recruits, said the UK has "equipped more than 9,000 Ukrainian recruits to ensure they have the necessary personal protective equipment, including helmet, body armour and webbing".

"The Ukrainian recruits, many of whom have little to no military experience, have shown exemplary courage, resilience, and a desire to learn which is deeply humbling to observe.

"Our instructors have done an excellent job in training these recruits to live and fight using their new equipment and transforming them from civilians to soldiers in just five weeks."