Following Significant Russian Strikes, NATO Nations Will Increase Ukraine’s Missile Defense

Following a wave of Russian missile strikes, Ukraine’s NATO-led allies have announced supply of cutting-edge air defense systems to Kiev.

Radars and missiles are among the weapons that the United Kingdom, Canada, France, and the Netherlands have pledged. A similar pledge was made earlier by the US. There is already one German high-tech system in Ukraine.

The commitments come as 50 nations representing Ukraine’s allies gather at the Nato headquarters in Brussels.

The summit was hailed as “historic” by Kiev.

On Monday and Tuesday, Russia allegedly used more than 100 missiles and dozens of drones to attack electricity facilities and other non-military targets, according to Ukraine.

On the first day of the strikes, at least 19 people died.

In several Ukrainian cities, they also led to significant power outages and disruptions in the water supply. Electricity rationing was the only option available to the government in Kyiv, the capital.

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, claims that the missile attacks were in reprisal for an attack on a crucial bridge between Russia and Crimea, the southernmost peninsula of Ukraine that Moscow invaded in 2014.

Russia asserts that Ukraine’s intelligence agency planned the explosion on Saturday; Kyiv disputes this assertion.

As a matter of concern, to help Ukraine’s logistics and information-collecting capacities, the UK will contribute hundreds of aerial drones as well as air defense weapons. In addition to the 64 howitzer artillery pieces previously provided, it will also deliver 18 more.

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated that “Russia’s most recent indiscriminate bombings on civilian areas in Ukraine deserve more help to those fighting to defend their homeland.”

“These weapons will support Ukraine’s comprehensive missile defense and increase its ability to defend its skies against attacks.”

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated that “we’re going to do everything we can to make sure that they [Ukrainians] have what’s required to be effective” following the meeting in Brussels on Wednesday.

Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, announced that France would give Ukraine air defense systems.

He made no mention of the systems that would be sent in an interview with France 2 television. He did, however, mention that their primary duty will be to safeguard the populace from drones.

The Netherlands declared it will send air defense missiles costing €15 million (£13 million; $14.5 million).

Russian attacks, according to Dutch Minister of Defense Kajsa Ollongren, “can only be answered with unwavering solidarity for Ukraine and its people.”

More than C$47 million ($34 million; £31 million) in military assistance, including drone cameras and satellite communications, was promised by Canada.