Much of the military aid Britain provided to Ukraine consisted of second-hand equipment, including army boots, which would otherwise have been disposed of. This was reported by the State Control of Great Britain, transmits Financial Times.
The British Ministry of Defense sent equipment to Ukraine that they planned to dispose of or replace, considering it useful for the Ukrainian military. This decision made it possible to reduce the amount of waste and reduce disposal costs.
To find additional equipment, the UK resorted to unusual methods, such as restoring spare tracks for Soviet T-72 tanks with the help of museum exhibits.
Although some of Ukraine’s Western allies are showing signs of support fatigue, Britain continues to be one of the main providers of military aid, with €9.07 billion, second only to the US and Germany. London also pledged to support Ukraine at the level of 3.5 billion euros annually.
Although much of the old equipment had a low market value (around €200 million), replacing it would cost €3.16 billion. The UK has already spent €2.81 billion on new equipment, with an additional €585 million in international funds and €970 million in operational support.
Head of State Control Gareth Davies noted that it is important to find a balance between supporting Ukraine and preserving Britain’s own defense capability. He also expressed concern about the insufficient training of Ukrainian recruits, especially in countering drones.
Despite some challenges, the report noted the successful work of the British Ministry of Defense, in particular the rapid delivery of air defense systems, which arrived in Ukraine in just six weeks.
Britain was among the first countries to provide military aid to Ukraine after the full-scale Russian invasion, providing modern Challenger 2 tanks, armored personnel carriers and other weapons, significantly strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Earlier it was reported that Britain openly acknowledged the use of its weapons by the Ukrainian military during operations in the Kursk region of the Russian Federation.
