Britain sends helicopters to Ukraine to bolster defenses amid Russian invasion

Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has announced that Britain is sending helicopters to Ukraine for the first time.

Three ex-military Sea Kings are being taken care of – one already in Ukraine – in an escalation of support for Kyiv.

They are the first manned aircraft dispatched by the UK since the Russian invasion began in February.

Mr Wallace also said an additional 10,000 artillery shells will be sent to help Ukraine secure territory it has reclaimed from Vladimir Putin’s invading forces in recent weeks.

The new support comes after Rishi Sunak announced a further £50million in defense aid over the weekend.

During a visit to Norway, Mr Wallace said: “Our support for Ukraine is unwavering. These additional artillery shells will help Ukraine secure the country it reclaimed from Russia.”

The Royal Navy offered Ukrainian forces and engineers six-week training on Sea Kings in the UK, the Ministry of Defense said.

It follows a commitment to provide 1,000 surface-to-air missiles and 125 anti-aircraft guns.

Mr. Wallace is in Norway meeting with Confederate Defense Ministers on the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Boris Johnson said France denied it “up to the last moment” when Russian forces crossed the border.

He added that Germany wanted Ukraine to lose quickly rather than fight a long war for “all sorts of reasonable economic reasons.”

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