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Explainer

Ukraine war: The weapons being used by Ukrainians to fight Russian forces - and the arms they are asking for

President Volodymyr ZelenAG°Ù¼ÒÀÖÔÚÏß¹ÙÍøy has led the requests with a series of emotional addresses as Russian forces have been held back through a range of weapons supplied to his country from other nations.

Ukraine weapons explainer
Image: A Ukrainian army service member with a Javelin anti-tank missile during a military parade in 2018
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Ukraine is continuing to appeal for weapons from the international community ahead of an expected fresh assault by Russian forces on the eastern side of the country.

We take a look at what arms Ukraine forces have been using to fight the Russians - and what it says is required so it can continue to "respond".

Bayraktar TB2 drone on display at the festival. The Bayraktar TB2 is a Turkish medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned combat aerial vehicle capable of being remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. It is manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar Defence. TEKNOFEST is Turkey aerospace and technology festival, organized by the Turkish Technology Team Foundation and the Republic of Turkey Ministry of Industry and Technolog
Image: Bayraktar drones sold to Ukraine by Turkey can target tanks and armoured vehicles

What powerful weapons are being supplied to Ukraine?

Russian forces have been held back with a range of weapons which have been supplied to Ukraine from other countries.

Earlier US military packages included 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems - with more being promised.

The Stinger - a "man-portable" air defence system - is mostly used by forces on the ground, but they can also be deployed from helicopters.

Bayraktar TB2 drones started to be sold to Ukraine by Turkey in 2019 and were used at the beginning of Russia's invasion.

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U.S. Marines with 2nd Low Altitude Air Defense (LAAD) Battalion fire a FIM-92 Stinger Missile during a training exercise at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Aug. 18, 2021. The live-fire training increased the Marines’ capabilities in providing ground defense of air sites, assets and installations. 2nd LAAD is a subordinate unit of 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, the aviation combat element of II Marine Expeditionary Force. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Yuritzy Gomez) - Image ID: 2GFG
Image: A Stinger missile, as shown here during a training exercise in the US, is mostly used by ground forces

They were able to target tanks and armoured vehicles - but they have had less impact since Russia was able to set up air defence systems in the battlefield.

Switchblade drones are believed to have been provided by the US and can have a range of 50 miles and hit speeds of 115mph.

The drone can be guided to its target and will explode on impact.

Anti-tank systems include the Javelin, which can be fired from a shoulder launcher and uses thermal imaging to reach its target.

Alongside further promises of supplies by the US, thousands of anti-tank weapons are being handed over by European nations, including Sweden, Germany and Norway.

The UK has pledged to provide Starstreak anti-aircraft weapons, which are known to be the fastest short-range surface-to-air missile and can accelerate to more than four times the speed of sound.

Read more: UK offers more military and financial aid

Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond is pictured firing her Harpoon anti-ship missile system. Fitted to the Batch III Type 22 frigates and the Type 23 frigates, the Boeing (McDonnell Douglas) Harpoon is a sophisticated anti-ship missile using a combination of inertial guidance and active radar homing to attack targets out to a range of 130km.  
PIC:Crown Copyright
Image: HMS Richmond is seen here firing a Harpoon anti-ship missile system

What has Ukraine been offered in recent days?

Last week, the Czech Republic said it would send 12 Soviet-designed T-72 tanks - the first member of NATO to provide such a weapon.

The Czech Republic has delivered tanks, multiple rocket launchers, howitzers and infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine among military shipments worth hundreds of millions of dollars, according to two Czech defence sources.

The country is also said to have been in talks with Ukraine about repairing damaged Ukrainian equipment.

The UK has said it would send 120 armoured vehicles and anti-ship missile systems to Kyiv.

Slovakia has sent an S-300 air defence system and a German armaments firm has reportedly offered 100 self-propelled artillery weapons to Ukraine.

US officials said they were sending 600 combat drones, which have a 50-mile range.

Read more: Ukraine expects military showdown with Russia in the east

Estonian army soldiers attend the first live fire exercise of their new Javelin anti-tank missiles in Kuusalu, Estonia, January 22, 2016. REUTERS/Ints Kalnins
Image: Anti-tank systems such as the Javelin uses thermal imaging to reach its target

What weaponry requests does Ukraine continue to make?

It wants anti-missile and anti-ship weapons alongside fighter jets, tanks and other artillery.

More tanks and armoured vehicles would also allow the Ukrainians to continue to engage Russians soldiers directly.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenAG°Ù¼ÒÀÖÔÚÏß¹ÙÍøy has led the requests with a series of emotional addresses to parliaments and delegations across the world.

He says his nation's forces need Harpoon anti-ship missiles, which have a range of nearly 60 miles, can hit speeds of 530mph and carry a warhead which lands a high-explosive blast.

Ukrainian soldiers stand by their self-propelled artillery vehicle, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues, outside Chernihiv, Ukraine, April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Marko Djurica
Image: Ukrainian soldiers stand by a self-propelled artillery vehicle near the northern city of Chernihiv last week

They also want self-propelled artillery guns, such as the Krauss-Maffei Wegmann PzH2000.

Carrying a crew of five, its range of fire is 25 miles.

With the Russians said to be poised to change tactics and concentrate their efforts on attacking eastern Ukraine, experts believe air defence systems will be crucial in defending troops and civilians from airstrikes.

S-300 defence systems can see missiles hit speeds of 4,600mph (Mach 6) and reach a range of just over 90 miles.

Nasams air defence systems has a range of 46 miles with speeds of 3,000mph, or Mach 4.

On Monday, the Kremlin's defence ministry claimed Russian forces had destroyed S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems which it said had been supplied to Ukraine by a European country.