RBC UKRAINE
WED, APRIL 10, 2024
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (president.gov.ua)
AUTHOR: OLEKSANDRA BASHCHENKO
Ukraine needs air defense systems and combat aircraft to protect cities from Russian terror, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Ukraine is not asking for too much. We need air defense systems and combat aircraft that can protect our cities from Russian terror. Several dozen systems and an adequate number of modern fighters – and there will be no problem with Russian aviation and bombs. We need artillery to push back the front and restore normal life on Russian-occupied land. And we need justice – pressure on Russia that will not allow Putin to increase his military potential. More sanctions against Russia, confiscation of Putin’s assets, and zero tolerance for Russian disinformation,” Zelenskyy said.
He stresses that all of this can be absolutely achievable and depends solely on the political will of partners.
“Putin can only fill the world’s deficit of decisions with his aggression. A deficit that is dragging on too long. Victory can be achieved in this war. But victory is not achieved by deficits,” the president concluded.
On April 6, the president said in an interview that Ukraine had a certain stockpile of missiles for air defense, but considering the high intensity of shelling, they might not be enough.
RBC-Ukraine gathered the main statements of the president’s interview in the report.
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British company to maintain and repair L119 howitzers in Ukraine
WED, APRIL 10, 2024
Archive photo: British company to maintain and repair L119 howitzers in Ukraine (mil in ua)
AUTHOR: DARYNA VIALKO
BAE Systems company has officially agreed to maintain and repair howitzers in Ukraine, which were previously transferred by Britain to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, according to the British government’s website.
During a trade mission to Kyiv, the British defense company BAE Systems signed a contract with the UK Ministry of Defense.
The contract provides for the maintenance and repair of L119 howitzers in Ukraine.
“This means L119s which were donated by the UK to Ukraine can be serviced in country and returned to the frontline quicker and provides vital support for Ukraine’s defense infrastructure,” states the government.
L119
The L119 is a 105-mm towed howitzer designed to support infantry, airborne troops, and assault groups.
105-mm howitzers are effective in destroying lightly armored vehicles. For example, a 105-mm shell exploding near a BMP-1/2 can cause serious damage to the vehicle’s hull due to shell fragments, and in some cases, complete destruction of the vehicle.
A direct hit almost always results in complete destruction. Additionally, howitzers are highly effective against fortifications and concentrations of enemy forces.
Ukrainian soldiers use L119 howitzers
Last year, Ukrainian soldiers demonstrated the operation of the British L119 howitzer on the front line. It is lightweight and mobile, allowing soldiers to quickly strike the enemy and change location.
Back in 2022, Britain announced the transfer of several dozen L119 howitzers and M109 self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine.
It was recently reported that BAE Systems is ready to produce 105-mm L119 howitzers in Ukraine.
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Ukraine and UK signed agreement regarding defense materials: Details
WED, APRIL 10, 2024
Photo: Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov discusses the new defense agreement with Britain (facebook.com/rustemumerov.ua)
AUTHOR: KATERYNA SHKARLAT
Ukraine and Britain today, April 10, signed a framework agreement on cooperation in the field of defense materials, according to Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.
On Ukraine’s side, the agreement was signed by Umerov and Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kamyshin. On the British side, the agreement was signed by Greg Hands, the Minister for Trade Policy of the United Kingdom.
According to Umerov, such an agreement strengthens cooperation between Britain and Ukraine in the military sector, opens the way for even greater support, and involves the integration of the most advanced British technologies.
The Minister emphasized that he called on representatives of dozens of British companies to invest in Ukraine and establish joint ventures.
Assistance from Britain
Britain has been one of Ukraine’s key allies since the onset of the full-scale war. The country was the first to agree to provide our military with modern Challenger 2 tanks, as well as long-range Storm Shadow missiles with a range of 300 kilometers.
On March 22, the UK Ministry of Defense announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine worth £60 million (over $75 million). It includes drones as well as anti-aircraft defense systems.
Additionally, on Monday, April 8, Britain reached an agreement with France to increase the supply of ammunition, drones, and air defense systems to Ukraine.
It seems that the “unnamed sources” that claimed Ukraine didn’t need F16’s were just bullshit. Possibly kremkrapper stuff.
As for artillery, it’s an artillery war. If Ukraine can outmatch the putinaZis in this critical area, things will go much better for the defenders.
Death to putlerstan!
On the F-16s, are you saying that something was said about UK’s position or the stuff we’ve heard about U.S. position Sir Scradge?
Neither. I was referring to reports quoting Ukrainian officers;
“a high-ranking Ukrainian officer reportedly told Politico: “Every weapon has its own right time. F-16s were needed in 2023. They won’t be right for 2024.”
Full article:
https://www.forces.net/ukraine/f-16-wont-help-ukraine-claims-senior-officer-who-labels-western-jet-irrelevant
In fact the RAF are fully involved with training Ukrainian pilots. They train them extensively on simulators, then, as we don’t have F16’s, they go to unnamed European destinations to compete their training on the real thing.
The RAF’s top guns fly F35’s and Typhoons. But we have several squadrons worth of retired Tornadoes still in fighting condition. They are analogue planes from the late 70’s, but they fly at Mach 2 and are extremely versatile: they can fly at low altitudes and deliver AAM’s as well as SSM’s.
I don’t understand why we didn’t donate them to the defenders. They would have been easy to master and lots of RAF veterans are available to train them.
Ah ok ty for clarifying. 😎👍
I already mentioned F-4’s. They are surely useful in addition to the F-16’s. Still no state offered Ukraine a single plane so far, instead they prefer to turn them into scrap metal. Unbelievable.
From what I’m looking back and seeing, Brandon personally said it in an ABC interview Feb of 2023 on the U.S. side….but that they were not “off the table”.
The biggest thermal power plant of kyiv region has been destroyed. It produced electricity for kyiv and surrounded oblasts. Kyiv has no more airdefence missiles…