UK to send heavy battle tanks to Ukraine

Rishi Sunak guarantees to ship 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine after cellphone name with Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to offer heavy tanks and artillery techniques to Ukraine, drawing swift reproach from the Russian embassy in London.

Sunak promised to ship the 14 Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine following a name with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday, in line with a press release from his workplace.

The transfer makes the UK the primary Western nation to provide the heavy tanks Kyiv has been calling for.

Sunak mentioned the tanks have been an indication of the UK’s “ambition to accentuate our help to Ukraine”, in line with a readout of a cellphone name with Zelenskyy.

The Ukrainian chief expressed his appreciation for the UK’s navy help on Twitter, saying “the selections that won't solely strengthen us on the battlefield, but additionally ship the proper sign to different companions”.

All the time robust help of the UK is now impenetrable and prepared for challenges. In a dialog with the Prime Minister, @RishiSunak, I thanked for the selections that won't solely strengthen us on the battlefield, but additionally ship the proper sign to different companions.

— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) January 14, 2023

Sunak’s workplace mentioned the British prime minister believed that a “lengthy and static warfare solely serves Russia’s pursuits”.

“UK defence and safety officers imagine a window has opened up the place Russia is on the backfoot as a result of resupply points and plummeting morale,” the assertion mentioned. “The Prime Minister is subsequently encouraging allies to deploy their deliberate help for 2023 as quickly as attainable to have most influence.”

The squadron of Challenger 2 tanks, that are battle tanks designed to assault different tanks, will go into Ukraine within the coming weeks. About 30 AS90s, that are massive, self-propelled weapons operated by 5 gunners, are anticipated to observe, it mentioned.

Russia responded to the UK’s pledge by warning that it might solely “intensify” the battle.

“Bringing tanks to the battle zone, removed from drawing the hostilities to a detailed, will solely serve to accentuate fight operations, producing extra casualties, together with among the many civilian inhabitants”, the Russian embassy in London mentioned.

Ukraine has been asking to be provided with heavier tanks for months, together with the US Abrams and the German Leopard 2 tanks. Nonetheless, some Western leaders have been treading rigorously.

Poland and the Czech Republic have supplied Soviet-era T-72 tanks to the Ukrainian military.

Whereas Poland has additionally expressed readiness to offer Leopard tanks, President Andrzej Duda underscored that the transfer would solely be attainable as part of a bigger worldwide coalition of tank help to Ukraine.

Earlier this month, France mentioned it might ship AMX-10 RC armoured fight autos to Ukraine, designated “mild tanks” in France. The US and Germany introduced the identical week that they'd ship Bradley combating autos and Marder armoured personnel carriers, respectively, for the primary time.

The UK’s resolution to offer the tanks got here as Russian forces fired missiles at Ukraine’s capital and different cities across the nation on Saturday, hitting crucial infrastructure.

No less than 12 individuals have been killed and greater than 64 wounded within the southeastern metropolis of Dnipro, the place a Russian missile assault destroyed a piece of an house constructing, regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko mentioned.

Seven youngsters have been among the many wounded, the youngest three years outdated, he added, saying “the destiny of 26 individuals continues to be unknown”.

Infrastructure amenities have been additionally hit within the western Lviv area and northeastern Kharkiv. Kyiv, the capital, was additionally focused.