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Zaporizhzhia region: A Ukrainian soldier with a drone
Photo: Andriy Andriyenko / AP
Britain increases spending on drones for Ukraine.
The British government wants to support Kiev with a total of 10,000 drones.
British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps announced this on Thursday evening, after the minister's visit to Kiev.
»I am redoubling our commitment to arming Ukraine with cutting-edge new drones, coming directly from the UK's world-leading defense industry - straight from the factory to the front.
“I encourage international partners to join Britain’s efforts,” Shapps said at a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Shapps also wrote on
According to a statement from his ministry, these are mainly so-called FPV (First Person View) drones.
They can be controlled from a cockpit perspective.
The British statement continued that these were successfully used to circumvent Russian air defenses and hit their targets.
There are also 1,000 kamikaze drones as well as reconnaissance and sea drones.
Shapps said Ukrainian forces used British weapons to destroy nearly 30 percent of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.
Drones have proven to be highly effective, according to the statement.
Together with Latvia, Great Britain wants to lead an international coalition to build up Ukraine's drone capabilities.
asc/dpa/Reuters