UK depletes weapon stockpiles after supplying Ukraine
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According to Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard, supplying Ukraine with as many weapons as possible was the "right thing" to do.
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Ammunition is placed as Ukrainian soldiers take part in a military exercise at a military training camp in an undisclosed location in England, on March 24, 2023. (AP)
UK Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Armed Forces Luke Pollard announced on Wednesday that the UK has depleted its weapon stockpiles after nearly three years of supplying arms to Ukraine.
He stressed the urgent need for the country to replenish its military resources.
"We have depleted our own stocks in order to do that," Pollard was quoted as saying by The Times on the sidelines of a Labour conference, adding that national stockpiles were so "threadbare" that the government had to cut supplies to Kiev in mid-2023.
Pollard asserted that supplying Ukraine with as many weapons as possible was the "right thing" to do, adding that the Labour government must not only focus on replenishing the depleted stockpiles but also ensure a steady and reliable supply of arms for Ukraine.
"I think most Western nations have gifted most of the deployable resources they have … so we are seeing a greater trading relationship being formed," Pollard added.
Read more: UK weapons stockpile reduced to 'nothing': The Times
Since the war in Ukraine began, the UK's economy has faced significant challenges, including a sharp rise in energy prices due to global sanctions on Russia.
Additionally, the UK's commitment to providing military aid to Ukraine has put further pressure on public finances, exacerbating the country's rising debt.
Russia has repeatedly warned that providing arms to Ukraine hampers efforts to achieve peace and essentially involves NATO members in the ongoing conflict.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has stated that any cargo containing weapons destined for Ukraine will be considered a legitimate target for Russian military strikes.
UK faces £2.71bln bill to replenish stockpiles
A report released by the National Audit Office (NAO) earlier this month revealed that the UK is set to spend £2.71 billion ($3.6 billion) to restore its military stockpiles.
The report also noted that, by the end of March 2024, the military equipment donated to Ukraine had a current value of only £171.5 million.
The gap between the value of the donated equipment and the replacement cost is largely attributed to the depreciation of older equipment, as well as the Ministry's plans to acquire more advanced models in certain cases, further increasing the overall cost.
In addition to stockpile donations, the UK has rapidly procured military equipment for Ukraine from the defense industry, bringing the total value of aid—combining stockpiles and newly purchased equipment—to £2.59 billion as of March 2024.
However, the NAO report highlighted that since 2023, London has scaled back donations from its own arsenals to avoid compromising the UK's military readiness.
Overall, the NAO reports that the UK has committed £7.8 billion in military aid to Ukraine between January 2022 and March 2025.
The increased military aid to Ukraine has also significantly impacted the UK's spending on combat operations. The NAO noted that spending reached £2.9 billion in the 2022-2023 financial year, the highest level since the UK's deployment in Afghanistan in 2011-2012.
