Help Ukraine: Britain Sends M270 Rocket Launchers, Spain Gives Leopard Tanks And Anti-aircraft Missiles

British M270 MLRS illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Cpl Jamie Peters RLC)

JAKARTA - Ukraine has again received weapons assistance from Western countries, after last week receiving additional weapons from the United States, with the latest coming from Britain and Spain, to deal with the Russian invasion.

Britain will supply Ukraine with a dual launch rocket system that can strike targets up to 80 km (50 miles) away. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said British support for Ukraine would change as Russia's tactics evolved, explaining the provision of the M270 multi-launch system.

"This highly capable multi-launch rocket system will allow our Ukrainian friends to better protect themselves against the brutal use of long-range artillery that (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's forces have been using indiscriminately to level cities." Minister Wallace said in a statement.

Britain said Ukrainian troops would be trained on how to use the new launcher in Britain, having previously announced that it would train Ukrainian personnel to use armored vehicles.

Illustration of a Spanish Leopard tank. (Wikimedia Commons/Oscar en el medio)

Meanwhile, Spain will supply Ukraine with anti-aircraft missiles and Leopard battle tanks in increasing its military support to the country, according to government sources quoted by El Pais newspaper on Sunday.

Spain will also provide essential training to the Ukrainian military on how to use tanks. It will take place in Latvia, where the Spanish Army has deployed 500 troops within the framework of NATO's Enhanced Advanced Presence operation.

The second phase of training could take place in Spain, according to sources quoted by El Pais. The newspaper said the Spanish defense ministry was finalizing the delivery of a low-level Shorad Aspide anti-aircraft missile to Kyiv, which the Spanish Army had replaced with a more sophisticated system.

It is known that Spain has so far supplied ammunition, individual protective equipment and small arms.

Reported earlier, US President Joe Biden last week said Washington would supply Ukraine with the M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, or HIMARS, after he received assurances from Kyiv that it would not be used to hit targets inside Russia.