Direct proof of use
LMM Martlet appears in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War through UK-supplied air-defense missiles delivered to Ukraine after Russia's full-scale invasion. A July 2024 UK Ministry of Defence release said hundreds of Lightweight Multirole Missiles had been gifted to Ukraine while it fought the Russian invasion, and a September 2024 release said the UK had provided hundreds of LMM missiles to Ukraine for air defense.
The same September 2024 release described the missiles as used in Ukraine's air-defense role against Russian drones and other air threats. Later UK releases expanded the documented transfer record: the March 2025 announcement described more than 5,000 additional LMMs for Ukraine and said Ukraine had already used the missile as part of its air defenses, while the October 2025 announcement said Belfast-built LMMs were defending Ukrainian airspace and had been delivered ahead of schedule.
Sources: GOV.UK 2024 LMM Order, GOV.UK 650 LMM Ukraine Package, GOV.UK 5000 LMM Ukraine Deal, GOV.UK Early LMM Delivery to Ukraine
Timeline
The public record is clearest from 2024 onward. In July 2024 the UK linked LMM to both replenishment of UK stocks and earlier gifts to Ukraine. On 6 September 2024, the UK announced a GBP 162 million package for 650 LMM systems, with the first batch expected before the end of that year.
On 2 March 2025, the UK announced a GBP 1.6 billion deal for more than 5,000 LMMs for Ukraine and said deliveries from the September 2024 order had started in December 2024. On 10 October 2025, the UK said hundreds of Belfast-manufactured LMMs had been delivered five months ahead of schedule under the gifting program.
Sources: GOV.UK 2024 LMM Order, GOV.UK 650 LMM Ukraine Package, GOV.UK 5000 LMM Ukraine Deal, GOV.UK Early LMM Delivery to Ukraine
Operational role
In Ukrainian service, the documented role is short-range air defense and force protection rather than long-range strike. UK releases tie the missile to defense of Ukrainian airspace, people, territory, civilians, and critical infrastructure from Russian aerial attacks.
The official sources separate transfer from battlefield effects. They support that the United Kingdom supplied LMM to Ukraine, that Ukraine used LMM as part of its air-defense network, and that the missile was credited by the UK with destroying Russian drones and other air threats. They do not provide a public shot-by-shot list of engagements or a precise first-use date.
Sources: GOV.UK 650 LMM Ukraine Package, GOV.UK 5000 LMM Ukraine Deal, GOV.UK Early LMM Delivery to Ukraine
