Exclusive: UK Engineers Repair Vital Weapons at Secret Ukrainian Facility
In an unmarked and undisclosed location in western Ukraine, British and Ukrainian engineers collaborate intensively to repair damaged military hardware, crawling under the chassis of artillery systems and dismantling the interiors of British-donated howitzers. This facility, along with three other similar sites inside Ukraine, has remained confidential until now, concealed in neutral language to avoid drawing excessive attention due to the sensitivities of all military-linked work within Ukraine.
The Guardian was granted exclusive access to this location earlier this week during a visit to Ukraine by UK Defence Minister Luke Pollard, marking the first time media have been allowed entry. Pollard emphasized that this facility exemplifies Britain undertaking actions that "no other nation has been willing or able to do." While no British military personnel are present on site, British engineers, contracted by the Ministry of Defence, are actively working in-country.
Safety Concerns and Operational Efficiency
For safety reasons, other countries have often preferred to repair military equipment outside Ukraine, resulting in longer journeys and significant delays in returning the kit to the front lines. In contrast, the facility visited by The Guardian features repair bays capable of servicing up to 30 vehicles and can fix various weapons systems, including British-made AS-90 self-propelled howitzers.
The AS-90 was initially scheduled for withdrawal from British army service in the 2030s, but the decision was made to donate the entire stock of these systems to Ukraine over recent years. Pollard acknowledged the risks associated with operating inside Ukraine but stated it was a "risk worth taking and managing" to support Kyiv. "Any operation or support provided inside Ukraine clearly carries greater risk than if it were conducted in Poland or within the NATO Article 5 protected area, but this is precisely the type of support Ukraine needs to remain in the fight," he explained.
Collaborative Efforts and Innovative Solutions
Engineers and technicians from two British companies, BAE Systems and AMS, work alongside Ukrainian colleagues to repair the equipment. Many of the Ukrainians hired by these companies were previously employed by Ukrainian military enterprises that have since been damaged or destroyed, and they are now receiving training to work with British and other foreign-donated hardware.
Much of the equipment used by the Ukrainian armed forces is now obsolete, necessitating the establishment of a new supply chain for spare parts. BAE Systems, involved in the original manufacture of the AS-90, had access to technical drawings, but for other systems, more creative approaches were required. For instance, to repair the Tunguska, a Soviet-era anti-aircraft platform, and Soviet T-72 tanks, engineers visited the Bovington Tank Museum in Dorset to examine displayed vehicles and determine how to manufacture spare parts in the UK.
Swedish Archer artillery systems are also repaired at the facility under a cooperation agreement where the Swedish government provides funding, and British and Ukrainian engineers perform the work. Looking ahead, there is hope to expand the project to more sites and involve additional countries. "We aim for one structured, organized approach where any nation donating equipment can plug into a system," Pollard noted.
Future Implications and Post-War Planning
Facilities like this offer insights into how Western support for Ukraine might evolve after a potential peace deal. A so-called "coalition of the willing" has formed, comprising nations prepared to support Ukraine in preventing future Russian attacks, particularly if efforts by figures like Donald Trump to broker a deal between Moscow and Kyiv prove successful.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed a desire for any postwar settlement to include provisions for Western troops stationed in Ukraine. However, recent years have demonstrated that no Western country is prepared to engage in war in Ukraine, and this stance is unlikely to change. "We know that our only real security guarantee will be a strong Ukrainian army," a Ukrainian security source stated.
Last month, UK Defence Secretary John Healey expressed hope to deploy British troops to Ukraine following a peace deal, though these troops are not expected to engage with Russian forces. "UK forces are not the deterrent; a stronger Ukraine is the deterrent," Pollard asserted, highlighting the focus on regenerating Ukrainian hardware and training troops.
Currently, Ukrainian units utilize their hardware "to the point of destruction," Pollard said. The task after a ceasefire would be to rapidly restore all front-line equipment, which is not feasible during ongoing daily operations. "For the UK, a key role in the coalition of the willing is to regenerate the Ukrainian armed forces, requiring infrastructure ready from day one of peace," he concluded.
