The UK sent a group of 30 elite troops to help train the Ukrainian armed forces on new anti-tank weapons gifted by the UK amid fears of an imminent new Russian invasion, according to reports.
The members of the Ranger Regiment part of the army’s newly-formed Special Operations Brigade flew out on military planes that also airlifted a total of some 2,000 anti-tank missile launchers to the country during the course of this week.
British surveillance aircraft have also been spotted as part of a quiet but notable build-up of support to Ukraine’s military by the UK.
Open source flight-tracking software has plotted Royal Air Force C-17 transport aircraft flying back and forth between the UK and Ukraine.
The UK is understood to have gifted the Next Generation Light Anti-Tank Weapon, (NLAW), which is described by its manufacturers as “the first ever single soldier missile system that rapidly knocks out any Main Battle Tank in just one shot by striking it from above”.
The movement of weapons came after Defence Secretary Ben Wallace announced to parliament on Monday that Britain would increase its military support to Ukraine, which also included an increase in British military personnel on the ground as trainers.
“We have taken the decision to supply Ukraine with light, anti-armour, defensive weapon systems,” he said.
“A small number of UK personnel will also provide early-stage training for a short period of time, within the framework of Operation Orbital, before then returning to the UK.”