Pentagon details air-defense deliveries to Ukraine as Brits told to prepare for blackouts on ‘really cold’ evenings

Kiev will receive NASAMS to counter Russian strikes in the near future, a senior official has said

The US plans to supply Ukraine with the first batch of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) within the coming weeks, the Department of Defense announced on Monday. Washington pledged to bolster Kiev’s air-defense capabilities after Russia unleashed a missile barrage on Ukrainian military targets and energy infrastructure last week, over what it called a “terrorist attack” on the strategic Crimean Bridge.

Speaking to reporters, an unnamed senior Pentagon official said the US is “looking to try to get the first [NASAMS] into Ukraine within the next several weeks,” adding that it has already provided Kiev with more than 1,400 shoulder-launched Stinger air-defense systems.

He went on to say that the US believes these deliveries to Ukraine “continue to be an area of emphasis” for Western countries. Last week, the US vowed to expedite the shipment of two of the eight NASAMS it has long promised to Kiev.

[link to www.rt.com (secure)]

The head of the National Grid has warned that a “worst-case scenario” might see power cuts in January and February

The “deepest, darkest evenings” in January and February could be marked by three-hour blackouts, the head of the National Grid ESO, John Pettigrew, said on Monday, emphasizing that he was talking about a “worst-case” scenario linked to the energy crisis in continental Europe.

Speaking at the Financial Times’ Energy Transition Summit, he explained that if the weather turns extremely cold and if gas supplies to feed power stations are insufficient, the company will have to switch off gas and electricity in parts of the country. It will be happening “probably between 4pm and 7pm in the evenings on those weekdays when it’s really, really cold in January and February,” Pettigrew said.

He explained that “in the context of the terrible things that are going on in Ukraine” the company needs to assess the “potential risks.”

Normally, during the coldest months and extreme weather events, the UK imports gas and electricity from continental Europe. However, this year European countries are facing a severe energy crisis exacerbated by sanctions and a sharp decrease in Russian energy supplies.

Pettigrew stressed that, despite the risks involved, the National Grid’s “base case” remains unchanged: it suggests that there would be enough gas and electricity for Britain this winter.

[link to www.rt.com (secure)]