The United Kingdom will supply 650 missile systems to Ukraine to boost its air defenses in the coming months, London said today, after President Volodymyr Zelensky protested in August a slowdown in British military aid deliveries to Kiev’s forces. .

The British Ministry of Defense explained in a statement that it made public that the first delivery of 650 “light multirole missile systems” (Light Multirole Missile, LMM) is planned for 2024, as part of a contract worth 162 million pounds (192 million euros).

These “highly versatile” missiles are manufactured by the French group Thales at its factory in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

They are designed in such a way that they “can be launched from various platforms, land, sea and air” and allow to hit targets on the ground as well as in the air, including drones, according to the manufacturer.

The new missile delivery will be formally announced later today by Defense Secretary John Healy, who will attend a meeting of the contact group of Ukraine’s allies at the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Britain has been among Kiev’s main backers since Russia’s armed forces invaded in February 2022. Among other things, it has supplied the Ukrainian military with Storm Shadow missiles, hundreds of LMM missiles and 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, complained in August via X that London was “unfortunately” not doing “more”, showing its “leadership role”; he blamed the British government for not handing over long-range weapons to be used against Russia and, more broadly, that “slows down” military aid.

The UK responded by assuring that its support for Ukraine was “unwavering”.

“This new commitment will give a major boost to Ukraine’s air defenses and demonstrates the commitment of our new government to step up its support,” John Healy, who took office in early July, said in a statement from the British government. after Labor Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s election victory.

“In recent days we have seen the tragic cost of Russia’s blind strikes in Poltava and Lviv. These new missiles produced in the UK will help Ukraine defend its population, its infrastructure and its territory,” he added.

Britain’s Ministry of Defense also said it would supply 300 million pounds (356 million euros) worth of ammunition for the artillery, also beginning by the end of this year.