Britain to send 14 of its main battle tanks and more weapons to Ukraine

LONDON, Jan 14 (Reuters) – Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office said on Saturday evening that Britain would send 14 of its main battle tanks and additional artillery support to Ukraine, disregarding criticism of the Russian Embassy in London.

A squadron of 14 Challenger 2 tanks will enter the country in the coming weeks and around 30 AS90 self-propelled guns, operated by five gunners, are expected to follow, the British prime minister’s office said in a statement.

The UK will also begin training Ukrainian forces to use the tanks and guns in the coming days.

“As the Ukrainian people approach their second year of life under relentless Russian bombardment, the Prime Minister is determined to ensure that Ukraine wins this war,” a spokesman for the Prime Minister said in a statement.

“Alongside his closest military advisers, he has analyzed the military situation, examined the strategic impact of UK support and identified a window where he believes the UK and its allies can have maximum impact. “

The announcement follows a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy earlier on Saturday in which Sunak “underscored the UK’s ambition to step up our support for Ukraine, including by providing Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems”.

Sunak’s office said earlier this week that Britain would coordinate its support with its allies after Germany, France and the United States all indicated last week that they would provide armored vehicles to the Ukraine.

The office also said the defense minister would brief the UK parliament on Monday on details of the security support.

The Russian Embassy in London said the decision to send the tanks would prolong the confrontation, result in more casualties, including civilians, and was evidence of London’s “increasingly obvious involvement in the conflict.” “.

“As for the Challenger 2 tanks, they are unlikely to help the Ukrainian armed forces turn the tide on the battlefield, but they will become a legitimate big target for Russian artillery,” the embassy said, according to comments cited by TASS. Press Agency.

BATTLE TANK

The Challenger 2 is a battle tank designed to attack other tanks and has been in service with the British Army since 1994. It has been deployed in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Iraq, according to the army.

“The Prime Minister and President Zelenskiy welcomed further international commitments in this direction, including Poland’s offer to provide a company of Leopard tanks,” Sunak’s spokesman said.

Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address released ahead of the detailed British announcement, called the expected aid “significant” for Ukraine’s defence.

“That’s really what we need,” Zelenskiy said. “And I believe that similar decisions will still be made by other partners – those who understand why such evil cannot stand a single chance.”

Reporting by Michael Holden and Lidia Kelly; Editing by Mark Heinrich, Angus MacSwan, Tomasz Janowski and Deepa Babington

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