On Thursday, the 2nd of June, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace announced that the UK was about to provide Ukraine with M270 MLRS missile launchers. The UK is also planning to train Ukrainian soldiers on its territory. 

Although Ben Wallace did not specify how many M270 MLRS units are to be sent to Ukraine, he assured that such a project is under discussion in close cooperation with the US. 

On the 1st of June, Politico reported that the UK would have asked Washington for permission to hand over the American-made launchers to Ukraine. The portal recalled that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will discuss this matter with US President Joe Biden.

The Minister of Defense emphasised that 100 days have already passed since Russia launched its large-scale invasion (initiated already back in 2014 – editor’s note). „Russian forces failed to achieve their original goals, which were to seize Kyiv and the Ukrainian centres of power” – he indicated. 

The UK shows once again its strong stance in the midst of the ongoing tragedy we are witnessing in Eastern Europe. British Defense Minister believes Russia is far from having achieved its initial strategic goals in Ukraine. 

The MLRS is an armoured tracked multi-missile launcher. The version that is about to be handed out to Ukraine has a range of up to approximately 80 km.

Image: Scott Nelson/Getty Images

Author: Sébastien Meuwissen