The UK announced it will transfer 10,000 UAVs to Ukraine, including 1,000 one-way attack drones. London’s move comes as Ukrainian forces continue to lose territory to advancing Russians.
UK Defence Secretary Grant Shapps announced the transfer following a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Thursday, saying, “I am ramping up our commitment to arm Ukraine with cutting-edge new drones coming directly from the UK’s world-leading defense industries – straight from the factory floor to the frontline.”
Sky News reports, “The latest supply is made up mainly of first-person view (FPV) drones, as well as 1,000 one-way attack drones and surveillance and maritime drones.” The drones will cost London $160 million, while Shapps pledged another $250 million in other military support.
Ukrainian soldiers have increasingly relied on one-way attack drones, or kamikaze drones, as Kiev’s Western backers have failed to produce enough artillery rounds to meet Ukraine’s demands. While small drones have proven effective in some situations, their small explosive payloads make them ineffective against armor and reinforced structures.
Additionally, Ukrainian officers have explained to Western media outlets that they lack the manpower to conduct military operations. Officers report that new soldiers are undertrained. Shapps attempted to downplay this, saying Kiev needed weapons, not more men.
“On my third visit to this great country, I was pleased to be able to offer my firm reassurance to President Zelensky on the UK’s unwavering commitment to the brave people and military forces of Ukraine.” He continued, “For now, what they need is the equipment. What they need is for more countries to step up, as the United Kingdom has done from the outset.”
Leaders in Washington, London, and across the NATO alliance have repeatedly pledged to give Ukraine everything it needs to win the war. However, more than two years into the conflict, public support, Western arms depots, and funding for Kiev have largely dried up in the West.
