The National Audit Office (NAO) found that the UK’s military aid to Ukraine includes obsolete equipment that would have been discarded. In March 2022, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) shipped over 17,000 pairs of unused military boots nearly slated for disposal. The MoD believes these supplies still have immediate military value for Ukrainian forces, despite being obsolete.
As of March 2024, the UK had donated £171.5 million ($225 million) in military equipment from its stockpiles to Ukraine. These items were valuable military assets to help Kyiv’s forces survive on the frontline. However, in mid-2023, Britain reduced its donations from stockpiles due to “unacceptable risks” to its own military readiness. The British Army’s training of Ukrainian troops has impacted its capacity to train its own soldiers, with a quarter of training facilities being utilized by Ukrainian military recruits.
The NAO emphasized the need for the MoD to balance the UK’s strategic interests with maintaining its own military capabilities as it plans future support for Ukraine. The report highlighted the importance of managing the impact of military aid on the UK’s own defense readiness.
