U.S., partners to supply anti-ship missiles to Ukraine

The United States is working with international partners to provide Ukraine with effective anti-ship missiles.

This was stated by a senior White House official in response to an inquiry from the Voice of America’s Ukrainian service.

Advanced anti-ship weapons are needed to protect Ukraine’s maritime borders in the face of full-scale Russian aggression.

The White House official stressed that the American side maintains constant contacts with Kyiv to meet the Defense Forces of Ukraine’s most pressing needs.

“We support Ukraine and work to help it improve its coastal defenses. As part of these efforts, we are providing Ukraine with unmanned coastal defense vessels, and also working with allies and partners to provide Ukraine with anti-ship missiles and systems,” the official said.

The senior administration official also stressed that the US remains the largest provider of security assistance to Ukraine resisting Russian occupation.

The Voice of America recalls that three weeks ago the White House reported about the Biden administration working to provide Ukrainian servicemen with anti-ship missiles to help Ukrainians overcome the naval blockade of their ports imposed by Russia.

As previously reported, the Swedish government will supply Ukraine with a new military aid shipment amid Russian aggression.

The new defense package includes RBS 17 (Robotsystem 17) anti-ship missiles.

The RBS-17 is a Swedish variation of the AGM-114 Hellfire missile. The modification was made by Bofors.

It has been adapted for anti-ship usage and can be launched from Naval vessels or a ground firing post.

RBS-17 missiles are equipped with a 9-kilogram warhead and have a range of about 8 kilometers. The missile is 163 centimeters long and 17.8 centimeters in diameter.