Frozen Russian assets to fund UK drones for Ukraine

The United Kingdom will provide Ukraine with 150,000 drones and more than 350 air defence missiles and radars in a £752 million package funded from immobilised Russian sovereign assets, the Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis has announced in Brussels, the Ministry of Defence has said.

The package, drawn from the United Kingdom’s £2.26 billion Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration loan to Ukraine, will deliver 150,000 Ukrainian-produced drones by the end of the year, along with more than 350 air defence missiles and radars, including Lightweight Multirole Missiles and ground-based radar systems, by the end of 2026. The loan is backed by the proceeds from frozen Russian sovereign assets, a mechanism the Chancellor set out last year that allows Moscow’s own immobilised money to help pay for Ukraine’s defence.

The air defence element is aimed squarely at the threat that has dominated Ukraine’s skies, with the Ministry of Defence saying that Putin “continues his barbaric air attacks on civilian targets” and that radars and missiles are critical to defending the country, as the package seeks to improve protection against Russia’s indiscriminate missile and drone strikes while also supporting Ukraine’s own defence industry.

The support was announced by Jarvis at his first NATO Defence Ministers’ meeting, where he also co-chaired the Ukraine Defence Contact Group alongside his German counterpart Boris Pistorius, the gathering of nearly 50 nations that, meeting for the 35th time, focuses on Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and on sustaining long-term military support. Jarvis met President Volodymyr Zelensky, who attended the meeting, to discuss what the department described as the United Kingdom’s unwavering support.

Jarvis said it was “a privilege” to attend his first NATO Defence Ministers’ meeting and to “host the vital Ukraine Defence Contact Group with Germany”. He added that “for 75 years, NATO has been the cornerstone of the UK’s security”, and that his priorities were “to strengthen the alliance’s deterrence and defence” and to continue supporting Ukraine “as they defend their nation against Russia’s brutal war of aggression”. The package of drones, air defence missiles and radars would, he said, “help to protect innocent Ukrainian people from Putin’s barrage of drones and missiles”, and he called it “an honour to welcome President Zelensky to this important meeting”.

The Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said the funding was “helping deliver the vital military equipment Ukraine needs” as it defended itself “against Russia’s unprovoked war”, describing British support as “steadfast”. She said she was “proud that we are providing vital support” and that the government would “continue to do all we can to keep pressure on Russia”.

Jarvis also confirmed that Britain is taking command of the Multinational Force for Ukraine headquarters, with Major General Tom Bateman due to assume command next month in the rank of Lieutenant General, leading the multinational team that coordinates support to Ukraine and is preparing for the long-term regeneration of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the event of a peace deal. Bateman, most recently the Standing Joint Force Commander, has been leading the headquarters’ planning on the recovery and regeneration of Ukraine’s forces, working with counterparts in Ukraine, France and other contributing nations.

Having met counterparts including the United States, France, Germany, Ukraine, Norway, Estonia, Denmark and Finland during the day, Jarvis agreed with Germany and Norway to deepen cooperation on anti-submarine warfare in the High North and the Atlantic, where all three operate modern submarine-hunting frigates and P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, a nod to the growing concern over Russian submarine activity off NATO’s northern flank.