Money seized from Russian assets to provide air defence missiles for Ukraine

The UK is to provide 350 air defence missiles for Ukraine using money seized from Russian assets.

The ASRAAM missiles can be fired using the RAVEN Ground Based Air Defence System supplied by the UK to Ukraine. They were initially used as air-to-air missiles, fired from fighter jets, but RAF engineers adapted ASRAAM to be launched from the back of a truck.

The missiles will be funded using £70m worth of interest generated from seized Russian assets under the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) scheme.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said: “Russia, not Ukraine, should pay the price for Putin’s barbaric and illegal war, so it is only right we use the proceeds from seized Russian assets to ensure Ukraine has the air defence it needs.

“The security of Ukraine is vital to the security of the UK and the Euro-Atlantic area, and our support will never waiver.

“My message to President Putin is clear: Russia needs to stop its indiscriminate attacks on innocent Ukrainian people and return to the negotiating table.”

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said: “Ukrainians are continuing to fight with huge courage – civilians and military alike. I am committed to ensuring Ukraine has the support they need to put them in the strongest possible position to secure peace.  

“Russia’s indiscriminate missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities show that Putin is not serious about peace, and it’s right that we use funds from seized Russian assets to help Ukraine defend itself from this onslaught. 

“These air defence missiles will save Ukrainian lives, using equipment developed jointly by British military engineers and our defence industry - showing how we are delivering on our Strategic Defence Review’s commitment to learn lessons from Ukraine.”