Germany has approved the supply of 2,700 anti-aircraft missiles to the Ukrainian army following Russia‘s intervention in Ukraine, sources close to the country‘s Finance Ministry told the German news agency Deutsche Welle.

These were Soviet-built Strela missiles, which were in the stockpiles of the armed forces of the former German Democratic Republic, the sources explained.

The government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz has now decided to reverse the policy of restricting arms exports that Berlin has been pursuing for years, to allow the direct delivery of arms to Ukraine, following the intervention of the Russian army.