Norway sends 100 Mistral air defense missiles to Ukraine

Norway has donated about 100 Mistral air defense missiles to Ukraine, the Norwegian defense ministry said on Wednesday.

Report informs, citing Reuters, that, according to the ministry, the weapons had already been shipped.

A press release from the ministry says that Ukraine "depends on international support to counter Russian aggression." Minister Björn Arild Gram said that the Mistral air defense system is an effective weapon that "will bring great benefits to Ukraine."

"The Norwegian Armed Forces will discontinue the production of the air defense system, but it is still a modern and effective weapon," he added.

Mistral is a portable anti-aircraft missile system designed to destroy low-flying helicopters and aircraft. It is designed in France. The maximum speed is 800 m/s.