Ukrainian troops have trained with the “formidable” AS90 155mm self-propelled howitzers that can obliterate Russian targets 30km away, Britain’s Defense Ministry tweeted in an intelligence update on Sunday.
After completing their seven-week training course, the Ukrainian artillery recruits will be sent back home, according to the MoD and Forces News update.
“The program is part of the UK’s ongoing commitment to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia,” the Defense Ministry added. A video accompanying the update shows artillery crews standing under the Ukrainian flag while practicing firing the weapon in a field.
The AS90 is a self-propelled artillery gun first produced in the late 1980s and is still in service with the British Army.
The 155mm, 39 caliber gun is capable of firing up to six rounds per minute with an effective range of about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles).
It is operated by a crew of six, including the driver, and can fire a variety of projectiles, including high explosives, smoke and illuminating projectiles, Forces News reported.
The weapon is mounted on the back of a highly mobile vehicle that can keep up with armored units on the battlefield.
In May, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Britain’s support for his country “will never waver.”
“From the supply of Challenger tanks to long-range missiles and pilot training, UK support for Ukraine’s defense will never waver,” Sunak said, according to ITV News.
More than 1,000 British servicemen have been involved in running the program as part of the British government’s support for Ukraine in the war. The UK also sent Challenge 2 tanks to Ukraine earlier this year.
Sophia Ankel
