UK supplies long-range rockets to Ukraine

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced on June 6 that Britain will supply Ukraine with MLRS M270 long-range multiple launch rocket systems, according to AFP.

The M270 system can hit targets at a distance of 80 km with precision-guided rockets, which will significantly increase the capabilities of Ukrainian forces. Ukrainian soldiers will be trained in the use of these systems in the UK.

British M270 rocket system during an exercise in Latvia in May Reuters

Secretary Wallace says British support for Ukraine will change as Russia’s tactics evolve. To date, the UK has provided more than 750 million pounds ($934 million) in aid military give Ukraineincluding air defense systems, anti-tank missiles and many other weapons and equipment.

Ukraine’s deputy defense minister said on June 5 that the country needs continuous military support from the West until it wins, not a one-time aid.

The UK’s new move was made in coordination with the US. Last week, the US President Joe Biden announced that Washington will provide Ukraine with a highly mobile artillery rocket system (HIMARS) M142, after Kyiv pledged not to use this weapon to attack targets in Russian territory. The US Department of Defense said that it is providing four M142 systems and rockets with a range of 64 km.

Despite Ukraine’s commitments, Russia believes that the US is fueling the fire and says it does not believe Ukraine will not use new weapons to attack Russian territory. President of Russia Vladimir Putin On June 5, Moscow said that Moscow would strike new targets if the West provided long-range rockets to Ukraine, a move widely seen as aimed at prolonging the conflict.

Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on June 5 that it had attacked a railway carriage repair factory on the outskirts of Kyiv and destroyed many T-72 tanks and other armored vehicles supplied to Ukraine by Eastern European countries.

Ukraine did not confirm this information, but announced that Russia had launched a missile attack on a railway facility in Kyiv, the first time the capital has been attacked since April 28.