The United Kingdom has pledged an additional £540 million in military and defence support to Ukraine, reinforcing Kyiv’s capacity to withstand ongoing Russian attacks. The announcement was made on Thursday, 13 February 2026, by the UK Ministry of Defence in London, following a series of intensified Russian strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
The package includes advanced air defence systems, precision-guided munitions, and associated logistical support aimed at protecting civilian populations and critical infrastructure. Officials from the UK Ministry of Defence, including Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, stated that the reinforcement complements prior commitments of military aid and forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen Ukraine’s defensive capabilities as winter conditions exacerbate humanitarian pressures.
Recent Russian attacks have targeted power grids, substations, and heating facilities across eastern and central Ukraine, leaving tens of thousands of civilians without electricity or heating amid freezing temperatures. Cities most affected include Kyiv, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Mariupol. Ukrainian authorities, led by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, reported widespread blackouts, with emergency crews working to restore essential services despite ongoing shelling by Russian forces.
Ben Wallace emphasized in a statement from London that the additional support “aims to protect Ukrainian civilians, bolster defensive resilience, and ensure the Ukrainian armed forces can defend against further attacks on critical infrastructure.” He noted that coordination continues with NATO allies, including Germany, France, Poland, and the United States, to provide intelligence sharing and further military assistance.
Analysts in Kyiv and Brussels have noted that the £540 million aid package will significantly enhance Ukraine’s short-range and medium-range air defence capabilities, enabling better protection of populated areas, energy facilities, and supply routes. Oleksii Reznikov welcomed the commitment, describing it as “a timely and crucial reinforcement that will save lives and strengthen Ukraine’s ability to resist aggression.”
The UK’s announcement comes amid growing calls in European capitals for sustained military and humanitarian support to Ukraine as the conflict enters its fourth year. Governments in Berlin, Paris, and Warsaw have reiterated commitments to maintain weapons deliveries, intelligence sharing, and reconstruction assistance in anticipation of continued winter hardships and further Russian offensives.
The combined impact of UK military aid and coordinated NATO support is expected to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to maintain essential services and defend civilian populations, even as energy infrastructure remains a primary target of Russian strikes across multiple oblasts, including Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
