On the ground in Ukraine, there’s one weapon troops want from the UK more than any other

On the frontline around Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, the scene of some of the war’s most intense fighting, soldiers are waiting for supplies from Britain. Without our missiles, they tell Askold Krushelnycky, advancing is more difficult – and every metre they take is ‘drenched in blood’

A Ukrainian serviceman of the 10th Assault Brigade fires towards Russian lines near Bakhmut (AP)

I am standing outside a base – concealed by camouflage netting – for soldiers of the air defence units belonging to Ukraine’s 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. Beside me, the commander, a captain, identified by his war name “Kamin” (which translates as “rock”), reels off the impressive amount of Russian hardware his men have shot out of the sky. Eight fighter jets, six helicopters, and more than three dozen drones of varying types – worth tens of millions of pounds.

We talk not far from the front lines around Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, although Kamin has asked for the exact location to remain unsaid. The Brigade – consisting of thousands of men – was moved here last year to face some of the bloodiest, most intense fighting of Russia’s invasion so far. The job of Kamin’s four battalions? To protect from overhead assault the men, equipment, trenches and fortifications of the brigade, which stretch out across 20 miles of this key front line, as Ukraine pushes on with its counteroffensive to retake territory occupied by Russian forces.

Top of Kamin’s wishlist are British-manufactured “Starstreak” missiles – and preferably “Stormer” armoured vehicles, which are used as launch platforms. While the UK has been sending both Starstreak missiles and the Stormer vehicles to Ukraine for some time, Kamin says his men are yet to get their hands on them. The commander talks of the missile’s innovative targeting system that, once the plane or helicopter has been locked onto, cannot be shaken off easily by manoeuvring or countermeasures.