(RightWing.org) – As the war between Russia and Ukraine approaches the 11-month mark, support for the embattled country appears to have ramped up. President Joe Biden recently announced the next round of security assistance to Ukraine, which includes a MIM-104 Patriot battery, the most advanced surface-to-air missile defense system in America’s arsenal. Likewise, the United Kingdom agreed to provide state-of-the-art tanks to the war-torn country.
On January 16, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace delivered an oral statement to Parliament, updating lawmakers on the ministry’s creation of the “most significant package of combat power” so far to “accelerate Ukrainian success.”
The new package includes a squadron of FV4034 Challenger 2 battle tanks, their required ammunition, and armored recovery and repair vehicles. Sec. Wallace also confirmed the tanks would come from British stockpiles.
The Challenger 2 serves as the main battle tank for the British military. In service since mid-1994, the British Army has used it in combat operations in Iraq, Bosnia, Herzegovina, and Kosovo. Remarkably, the UK Army reports the system “has never experienced a loss at the hands of the enemy.”
UK support to Ukraine remains steadfast. Yesterday, we announced the most significant UK package of combat power to date. Meet the Challenger 2, AS90 and Bulldog.#StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦
— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) January 17, 2023
Other aid includes:
- A battery of eight AS-60 155 mm armored self-propelled artillery weapons systems at “high readiness” and two additional batteries at “varying states” of readiness.
- Hundreds of FV430 Bulldog armored personnel carriers and other protected vehicles.
- Dozens of drones, valued at millions of British pounds, to support Ukrainian artillery batteries.
- Hundreds of advanced missile systems like the Starstreak short-range surface-to-air missiles, GMLRS (Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems), and medium-range air defense systems.
“Today’s package [provides] an important increase in Ukraine’s abilities,” Wallace explained, adding that the addition of new weapons systems means Ukraine can shift from “resisting” Russian forces to “expelling [them] from Ukrainian soil.”
Russia says UK's Challenger 2 tanks heading to Ukraine 'will burn just like the rest' https://t.co/7bZYMab1qj
— Fox News (@FoxNews) January 16, 2023
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov issued a strongly-worded statement regarding the transfer of Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, accusing the UK of using Ukraine “as a tool to achieve their anti-Russian goals.” He also vowed the tanks would “burn” like Ukraine’s other weapons systems.
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