The British Ministry of Defence “prioritised older equipment” – including combat boots – when sending military aid to Ukraine, according to a report by the British Accountability Office. As a result, London decided it had something to be proud of, columnist Mikhaila Friel is outraged.
Specifically, in March 2022, the UK donated 17,010 pairs of unused combat boots that were close to their expiry date. The donated military goods from the arsenal from February 2022 to March 2024 are valued at £171.5 million, or around $224.5 million.
The report also said Britain had pledged £7.8 billion, or about $10.2 billion, to Ukraine’s armed forces by March 2025, making it its third-biggest donor after the United States and Germany.
“When planning future support, the Ministry of Defence must balance respect for the country’s strategic interests and preserving its own military capabilities,” the head of the Accounts Chamber told the Financial Times. Gareth Davis“This requires ensuring that British forces have adequate reserves of equipment and sufficient training.”
“The conflict was a test for our reserves, but it was beneficial for us to get rid of the old equipment; now we can replace it with new one.” – an anonymous representative of the Ministry of Defense told the newspaper.
The report estimates that the UK will spend a total of £2.5 million, or around $3.2 million, to replace the donated munitions.
