Michael Fallon, Defence Secretary
DEFENCE Secretary Michael Fallon recently confirmed that the UK will provide a new package of non-lethal equipment to the Ukrainian armed forces. Five high-priority items will be gifted that will provide immediate benefit and help save lives.
The items to be gifted are:
- 2,000 Mark 6 helmets
- 150 helmet-mounted monocular night vision goggles (MNVGs)
- 200 global positioning units (GPS)
- 220 hardened laptops
- 1,000 first aid kits
The total value of this package is approximately £850,000, including transportation and contingency costs.
The package has been provided in response to requests from the Ukrainian Government. It is due to be delivered to Ukrainian Armed Forces over the coming weeks and is designed to increase Ukraine’s defensive capacity and awareness of tactical situations on the ground.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “The UK is committed to supporting Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity in the face of Russia’s aggression.
“This gift of non-lethal equipment is designed to prevent further Ukrainian fatalities and casualties and to help improve situational awareness on the ground. Our overall aim is to strengthen the defensive capability of the Ukrainian armed forces and build the resilience that they need.”
The package is being provided alongside other short term training activities, announced by the Prime Minister last week, which will be delivered by UK military personnel to the Ukrainians in-country.
This support is in addition to ongoing Defence engagement activities with Ukraine. They include support on crisis management, anti-corruption, Defence reform and strategic communications. The MOD will also be delivering procurement training in the coming weeks. Over the last year the UK has provided personal protective equipment, winter fuel, medical kits, winter clothing and sleeping bags to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This prior support totals more than £1.2 million and is separate to today’s announcement.
UK policy since the start of the crisis has been to provide non-lethal assistance to Ukrainian armed forces, in line with HMG’s assessment that there must be a political solution to this crisis. The MOD will continue to focus on support and assistance that will reduce fatalities and casualties amongst members of the Ukrainian armed forces, whilst building their capacity and resilience.
The MOD is also working closely with key allies through the US / Canada / Ukraine Joint Commission for Cooperation and Defence Reform.
THE QUEEN TO ATTEND AFGHANISTAN SERVICE OF COMMEMORATION
Her Majesty The Queen and His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh will attend the Service of Commemoration – Afghanistan at St Paul’s Cathedral on Friday 13 March.
The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh will join members of the Armed Forces, veterans, the Next of Kin of deceased personnel, representatives of military and aid charities and organisations, and the UK’s NATO allies at the event.
Also in attendance will be The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, The Duke of York and The Earl and Countess of Wessex, The Duke of Gloucester, the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Secretary of State for Defence, Service Chiefs and other senior political and military figures.
The Ministry of Defence has announced further details of the Service of Commemoration, which will also include a parade through the City of London from St Paul’s to the Guildhall and a flypast.
The service will pay tribute to members of the Armed Forces past and present who served on operations in Afghanistan, and all those in the UK who worked to make the country safer and more stable. It will also reflect on the 453 Servicemen and women who lost their lives during that campaign.
During the service, a cross made of shell casings that adorned a memorial wall in Camp Bastion will be blessed by The Archbishop of Canterbury, ahead of forming part of a new Bastion Memorial Wall at The Royal British Legion’s National Memorial Arboretum, which will be dedicated at a special ceremony in June.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said, “I am delighted that so many members of the Armed Forces, veterans, and their families will be able to mark the day either at the St Paul’s service, by marching in the parade, or at one of the other services across the UK.
“I hope that people across the country will join them in remembering those we have lost and recognising the extraordinary courage and dedication of all those who served. They leave a proud legacy - terrorists have been prevented from using Afghanistan as a safe haven for attacks on our streets and it is a safer and more prosperous country.”
The Archbishop of Canterbury will give an address and an Act of Commitment to the Common Good will be led by the Bishop of London.
The St Paul’s Cathedral Choir will sing music by Maurice Durufle, Ralph Vaughan Williams, William Harris and John Stainer. Hymns include God is Love: let heav’n adore him (Blaenwern) and Lead us, heavenly Father, lead us (Mannheim).
Following the service, The Prince of Wales will take the salute as a parade of personnel who served in Afghanistan from the Royal Navy and Royal Marines, the Army and the Royal Air Force, and veterans, supported by military bands and Pipes and Drums make their way from St Paul’s Cathedral. During the parade, a flypast of aircraft used in the campaign, including Chinook, Apache and Sea King helicopters, and Hercules and Tornado aircraft will fly over the parade and Cathedral in tribute.
Receptions will then be held at Guildhall hosted by the City of London Corporation, the Honourable Artillery Company and Wellington Barracks hosted by The Royal British Legion attended by Members of The Royal Family, those who attended the service and those who took part in the parade.
The Ministry of Defence, in partnership with The Royal British Legion, is also inviting Armed Forces veterans who served in Afghanistan across the UK to apply to take part in the parade. Those who parade will be invited to the subsequent receptions.
DEFENCE SECRETARY REVIEWS MILITARY PROGRESS AND REAFFIRMS UK COMMITMENT TO TRAIN SYRIAN MODERATE OPPOSITION
Defence Secretary Reviews Military Progress and ReaFfirms UK Commitment to Train Syrian Moderate Opposition
TODAY in Kuwait the British Defence Secretary met the senior military figures overseeing the international coalition’s response to the threat posed by ISIL.
Michael Fallon met with the US Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force Lt General James Terry and the UK Deputy Commander Major General Bob Bruce at Camp ‘Arifjan, the Headquarters for anti-ISIL operations.
During talks, Mr Fallon received an update on operational activity against ISIL. He emphasised the UK's position that ISIL must be defeated in both Iraq and Syria and reaffirmed the UK’s intention to contribute to a US-led programme to train the Syrian Moderate Opposition at training sites across the Middle East.
Mr Fallon also discussed the UK’s significant contribution to the international coalition’s air campaign and the training and assistance provided to the Iraqi military.
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said: “I came here to review progress in the campaign to defeat ISIL with Lt General Terry and Major General Bruce and to consider what more we can do counter its violent ideology.
“This is a fight that ultimately can only be won on the ground and we are making a major contribution to assist Iraqi forces. Our aircraft have conducted around 160 strikes and provided vital refuelling capability; and the recently deployed E3-D aircraft will boost the coalition's command and control and surveillance capabilities."
"But ISIL must be defeated in both Iraq and Syria. Our actions and surveillance capabilities are freeing up other countries to strike in Syria. I reiterated today that Britain intends to contribute to the coalition's training of moderate Syrian opposition."
Mr Fallon travelled to Kuwait as part of a wider Gulf visit as UK air activity over Iraq increased significantly recently, with RAF Tornados attacking a number of ISIL positions threatening Iraqi ground operations over the weekend. The trip will focus on how countries in the region can continue to tackle extremist groups. He met with the Kuwaiti Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah and Defence Minister Sheikh Khaled al-Jarrah al-Sabah to welcome Kuwait’s contribution to anti-ISIL efforts and to reiterate the strength and importance of relations between the two countries.
En route to Kuwait, Michael Fallon also met with His Majesty King Abdullah II and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mashal M. Al-Zaben in Jordan to reinforce the UK’s commitment to the Jordanian Armed Forces and to explore the country’s vision for countering the treat of ISIL to the region.