By Aysu Bicer
LONDON (AA) - The UK has pledged a staggering £245 million ($310 million) to enhance Ukraine’s artillery capabilities, as the ongoing war between Moscow and Kyiv entered its third year.
"Nearly a quarter of a billion pounds’ worth of UK funding will boost their critical stockpiles of artillery ammunition, while the Royal Air Force completes a further delivery of advanced tank-busting missiles. Together, we will ensure Putin fails, and a victory for democracy, the rules," the UK's Defense Secretary Grant Shapps said in a statement.
"Against all odds, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have pushed back the Russian invaders to recapture half of the land (Russian President Vladimir) Putin stole, while significantly degrading Russia’s capabilities – with around 30 per cent of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet destroyed or damaged, and thousands of tanks and armoured vehicles reduced to scrap," he added.
Over the years, the UK has trained over 60,000 new recruits and allocated nearly £12 billion in economic, humanitarian, and military aid, according to the government.
In a recent address to parliament, Shapps announced the delivery of 200 additional Brimstone anti-tank missiles to the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), bringing the total number to over 1,300.
Last week, he also said the UK will further co-lead an international capability coalition to supply cutting-edge drones to Ukraine, alongside Latvia, alongside the UK’s co-leadership of the international maritime capability coalition announced in Dec.
According to the government, the UK’s non-military support to Ukraine since the start of the war comes to £4.7 billion, including £4.1 billion in fiscal support and over £660 million in bilateral assistance.