The United Kingdom has announced the establishment of a network of military maintenance facilities within Ukraine, aimed at expediting the repair of battle-damaged equipment for Ukrainian forces. The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed that four facilities are currently operational, with plans for a fifth site. This initiative is part of the UK’s ongoing support for Ukraine since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
These facilities, managed by UK companies under MOD contracts, employ both British and Ukrainian personnel. They are specifically designed to repair a range of military equipment, including UK-supplied CVR-T armoured vehicles, Husky support vehicles, and L119 light guns, in addition to Soviet-era systems still in use by Ukraine’s armed forces. The sites also maintain the AS-90 artillery systems donated by the UK and collaborate with Swedish partners to support the Archer artillery systems.
By situating maintenance and repair facilities within Ukraine, the UK aims to streamline the repair process, reducing the need to transport damaged equipment abroad. This strategic move allows for quicker repairs and ensures that vital military assets are returned to Ukrainian units more efficiently.
During a recent visit to Ukraine, Luke Pollard, the UK Defence Minister for Readiness and Industry, toured one of the repair facilities. There, he engaged with staff dedicated to restoring damaged military equipment for frontline use. Pollard emphasized the UK’s commitment to Ukraine, stating, “While the world’s attention is focused on conflict across the Middle East, the UK is standing firmer with our friends in Ukraine. Our pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s defiant Armed Forces in the fight against Putin’s brutal attacks.”
In tandem with these developments, Pollard led the seventh UK-organised defence trade mission to Ukraine, which is described as the largest to date, featuring over 80 delegates and 55 companies, including a record 35 British firms. International partners from Estonia, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden also participated. This mission, organized by the ADS Group, the UK trade association for the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors, aimed at enhancing industrial cooperation between British and Ukrainian defence industries.
Furthermore, the UK and Ukraine signed a collaborative agreement under Programme Lyra, a technology exchange initiative established between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June 2025. This project focuses on integrating UK electronic warfare technology with Ukrainian platforms to bolster Ukraine’s military capabilities.
The trade mission also signals the UK’s intention to establish a permanent presence in Ukraine, with plans for a new British Business Centre in Kyiv designed to deepen industrial cooperation and investment between the two nations.
Since the onset of Russia’s invasion, the UK has committed over £21 billion in support to Ukraine, positioning itself as one of Kyiv’s largest bilateral donors. This extensive investment reflects the UK’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine in its defense against aggression and underscores the importance of international partnerships in enhancing military resilience.
