The facilities, which had not previously been ​divulged, were set up using both British ​and Ukrainian workers and operated under contracts issued ⁠by Britain’s defence ministry.

“From the factory floor ​to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine,” ​Luke Pollard, Britain’s Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said in a statement.

“Our pioneering facilities are helping keep Ukraine’s ​defiant armed forces in the fight against (Russian ​President Vladimir) Putin’s brutal attacks, and British firms are boosting ‌long-term ⁠industrial production in Ukraine and partnering with Ukrainian companies to benefit both our nations.”

Britain has been one of Ukraine’s closest allies since Russia invaded ​its neighbour in ​February 2022, having ⁠committed more than 21.8 billion pounds ($29.2 billion) of support to Kyiv.

The British defence ​ministry said that as part of ​their ⁠work, the four facilities in Ukraine were repairing CVR-T armoured vehicles, Husky support vehicles, L119 light guns ⁠and ​AS-90 artillery systems, which Britain ​had donated.

A fifth facility was also being planned, it said.