UK deploying mid-range air defense system, 100 personnel in Poland

By Ahmet Gurhan Kartal

LONDON (AA) - Britain on Thursday said it is sending an anti-air missile system alongside 100 military personnel to Poland to protect its airspace against any Russian aggression.

Speaking in Warsaw, Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace said Poland is carrying a big burden of the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.

"We are going to deploy the Sky Sabre medium-range anti-air missile system to Poland with about 100 personnel to make sure that we stand alongside Poland, protecting her airspace from any further aggression by Russia," Wallace said.

The agreement of the deployment was sealed during Wallace’s meeting with Polish counterpart Mariusz Blaszczak, a government statement said.

"We want to ensure the borders of Europe are well-protected," a spokesperson for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said.

The Sky Sabre air defense system has an extended range and can be used against fighter jets or smart bombs.

Last weekend Russian missiles attacked a Ukrainian military training base 15 miles from the Polish-Ukraine border and killed 35 people.