Britain sends more artillery into battle as Zelensky thanks PM for support

BRITAIN is sending 20 mobile artillery guns and tens of thousands of shells to Ukraine for what senior generals expect will become the largest artillery campaign since the Second World War.

- Marco Giannangeli

Sources last night confirmed that 20 AS-90 self-propelled Howitzers and 45,000 British-made high explosive shells will be flown to Poland this week, where Ukrainian forces will be taught to maintain them before they are deployed.

The AS-90 Howitzers - which have a range of 15 miles - are highly manoeuvrable and can fire three shells in less than 10 seconds. Their armour is strong enough to protect their crew of five from armour piercing rounds.

Ukraine is also receiving 72 towed Howitzers from the US and 144,000 shells - enough for three weeks of intensive operations, as part of a £620million defence boost to Ukraine.

France is sending 40 self-propelled Caesar artillery guns. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky held a phone call with Boris Johnson yesterday.