The UK has disclosed for the first time that it operates four military sustainment facilities inside Ukraine in response to Russia’s aggression, with a fifth site planned.
London said that the network allows damaged vehicles and weapons to be repaired locally rather than transported abroad, optimizing turnaround times and returning equipment to frontline units faster.
The government noted that it began establishing the infrastructure after Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Inside the MRO Facilities
The maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) sites run under government contracts and employ both British engineers and Ukrainian technicians.
They restore armored vehicles, artillery systems, and other military equipment used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Systems already repaired at the sites include UK-supplied CVR-T armored vehicles, Husky support vehicles, L119 light guns, and AS-90 artillery systems, as well as older Soviet-era equipment still used by Ukrainian forces.
Through cooperation with Sweden, the facilities also support maintenance for Archer artillery systems.
‘Pioneering Facilities’
During a recent visit to Ukraine, UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard met staff operating one of the MRO facilities.
“While the world’s attention is focused on conflict across the Middle East, the UK is standing firmer with our friends in Ukraine,” Pollard said. “From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine.”
“Our pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin’s brutal attacks, and British firms are boosting long term industrial production in Ukraine and partnering with Ukrainian companies to benefit both our nations,” he added.
Since the invasion began, the UK has committed more than 21.8 billion pounds ($29 billion) in support to Ukraine, making it one of Kyiv’s largest bilateral donors.
