British transport aircraft continue to operate regular flights between RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire and Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport in southeastern Poland, sustaining the vital air bridge that enables the delivery of weapons and equipment to Ukraine.
The first of these supply flights took off even before Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022, and they have continued without interruption ever since. While flights initially landed in Ukrainian territory, deliveries are now routed through Poland, roughly 70 kilometres from the border, where cargo is transferred by road or rail to Ukrainian forces.
At the time of writing, one RAF aircraft was on approach to Rzeszów, part of the steady stream of British transport missions that have supported Ukraine’s defence for nearly three years.
Rzeszów has become NATO’s key logistics hub for military assistance, offering the infrastructure needed to handle heavy cargo aircraft such as the RAF’s A400M Atlas and C-17 Globemaster. This route allows the UK and its allies to maintain secure, efficient supply lines within NATO airspace while avoiding direct overflights of Ukraine.
UK military assistance to Ukraine has been extensive and sustained. Since 2022, London has pledged £21.8 billion in total support, including £13.06 billion in military funding. About £10.8 billion of this has been provided as gifted military aid, including Challenger 2 tanks, Storm Shadow long-range missiles, air defence systems, and precision artillery.
The UK has also trained over 58,000 Ukrainian personnel through Operation Interflex, a multinational effort that continues to expand, with training for pilots and marines included in recent phases. Financial and industrial assistance has complemented these efforts, with British defence companies and government funds contributing to Ukraine’s rearmament and reconstruction.
These missions represent a continuous logistical link underpinning the flow of Western support that keeps Ukraine’s armed forces equipped, trained, and able to resist Russian aggression.
Photo by Ronnie Macdonald [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons.
What an awesome photo
Heard this morning’s flight go overhead, and it’s return in the evening. Noisy beasts those A400Ms, even up at 30,000ft…
I read today that France are buying 4 more Atlas aircraft brings their fleet to 46 , how does that compare to the RAF ?
France is not governed by politicians who want to dismantle its armed forces, as is the case in the United Kingdom.
You’re mistaken, Reform don’t govern us. They just occasionally show up in the Commons to grandstand when they’re not busy with all their other paid employment…
Some politicians are competent enough to make a living outside politics? That will never catch on….?
You should check the Register of Members Interests”, Farage has 12 jobs in addition to being an MP.
It’s not unusual, but he’s particularly talented at grifting.
That is a matter for his constituents. MPs always used to be able to do more than one thing at the same time…and the country was run a great deal better. There is far too much government regulation, interference in the private sector, citizens private lives, because, otherwise, full time MPs wouldn’t have enough to do. The urge by MPs to ‘do something’ is the scourge of contemporary Britain.
‘Time was when the House of Commons (not to mention the Lords) comprised a significant proportion of the best writers, philosophers, historians, soldiers and scientists of the day. Some were content to treat Parliament as a sinecure, but many of these celebrities became genuine statesmen who used Parliament to change the course of history. Gladstone and Disraeli weren’t content to write books on theology and classics or bestselling novels respectively, but were two of our greatest Prime Ministers. Wellington didn’t only defeat Napoleon but was responsible for Catholic emancipation. Asquith wasn’t just the best barrister of his time, but reformed everything from pensions to Parliament. Churchill earned millions from writing and speaking during a lifetime in the Commons; his innumerable second jobs did not stop him serving his country like no other.
Many other polymaths who did not climb to the top of the greasy pole nevertheless made important contributions to public life. Our greatest Renaissance humanist, Thomas More, was Speaker of the Commons. The playwright Sheridan entertained the Commons as well as the theatre. The historian Thomas Babington Macaulay was the finest parliamentary orator of his era. The author of On Liberty, John Stuart Mill, was also the first MP to campaign for women’s suffrage. A.P. Herbert was not merely one of the wittiest satirists of the mid-20th century, but championed Private Members’ Bills…’
‘Second jobs for MPs? Let’s not exclude the polymaths from Parliament’ Daniel Johnson
Just imagine if these genius polymaths and renaissance men had given Parliament their full time attention, instead of as a part-time hobby? Would not the UK not been all the much better now?
Please do point out our latter day Churchills, Asquiths, Atlees, Disraelis, that sit in Parliament today. Farage isn’t of their statute, like many he’s just a grifter.
(Wellington resigned his seat in Parliament in 1809 because he recognised that being on active service while an MP was inappropriate.)
They couldn’t have been polymaths if they sat in a parliamentary office or at home on conference calls all day long.
And, in many things, less is more, particularly regarding government and government regulations.
But Wellington had a point. Conducting the Peninsula Campaign whilst WFH would have been beyond even him.
🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Good consistency.
at 22 machines, the RAF is half that number!
Those fly regularly over my house in Germany. Despite all – sometimes justified – criticism, maybe it is time to acknowledge that the A400m project, with all its flaws, has produced a great final result. So it sometimes is possible to work together between Spanish, German, UK, French and other partners to achieve something great.
The UK’s support for Ukraine has been pivotal in ensuring that Kyiv has been able to sustain its fight against Russia’s invasion.
Their fight for democracy and freedom is deserving of our wholehearted backing.