UK condemns Russian use of banned gas in Ukraine
The Ministry of Defence has condemned Russia’s continued use of banned chemical weapons in Ukraine, reaffirming Britain’s commitment to holding violators accountable and enhancing Ukraine’s defences against such threats.
MoD expands access to test ranges for SMEs
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed steps to improve access to its test and evaluation ranges for small and medium-sized enterprises, including those without existing sponsorship links to the department.
UK interested in female Gurkha recruits
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed the British Army’s intent to recruit female Gurkhas—pending continued discussions with the Government of Nepal.
Iranian nationals arrested in suspected UK terror plot
Five men have been arrested as part of a pre-planned counter-terrorism operation led by the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command.
No change to reservist mobilisation policy
"Wherever possible, a minimum of 28 days’ formal notice will be given for contingency operations and 90 days for pre-planned operations."
UK seeks closer defence procurement ties with EU
The UK Government is pursuing deeper defence cooperation with European allies, including steps towards joint procurement and stockpiling of equipment, according to a ministerial statement.
Army cadets ammunition levels ‘sufficient’
The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that sufficient stocks of 5.56mm ammunition are available to support all Army Cadet Force (ACF) and Combined Cadet Force (CCF) activities for the 2025-26 training year, including shooting training requirements and national competitions.
Over 500,000 rounds sent to Ukraine from Britain
The UK has confirmed it has supplied Ukraine with over 500,000 rounds of artillery ammunition worth more than £1.5 billion since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
NATO nuclear policy symposium opens in Helsinki
NATO’s annual Nuclear Policy Symposium began in Helsinki on 29 April 2025, bringing together leading experts and senior officials from across the Alliance to address the growing challenges of nuclear deterrence.
An update on our comments section
Some of our readers may have noticed recent issues affecting the comments section of the UK Defence Journal.
