Mayor of London decides to provide Ukraine with cars that would otherwise be scrapped

24 December, 2023 Illustrative photo of a parking lot in the UK. Photo from open sources. Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, has changed his mind about sending the cars to Ukraine that would otherwise be scrapped.

The Telegraph reported on this. Khan had previously banned the shipment of vehicles that did not meet the Ulez standard to the war zone. He argued that such a decision would not benefit Londoners in environmental, economic, and social terms.

The Mayor changed his mind and asked Transport Minister Mark Harper to provide Londoners and other residents of the country with the opportunity to donate suitable vehicles to Ukraine through recycling schemes. A joint letter written with Ben Wallace, the former Defense Secretary, says: "This could be most quickly done by altering the national regulations for the Certificate of Destruction, required as proof that a vehicle has been permanently scrapped, to instead enable the export of suitable vehicles to Ukraine via a registered charity or national scheme."

Vehicles purchased by the Help Heroes of Ukraine Foundation for the needs of the Ukrainian military. September 2022.

Photo credits: Help Heroes of Ukraine.

The letter adds: "We are optimistic you will work with us to enable Londoners and others around the country to receive money for taking polluting vehicles off our cities' streets while providing vital support towards the people of Ukraine." Khan changed his mind after being criticized by Boris Johnson, his predecessor as Mayor of London and former Prime Minister. He called the current Mayor's decision "petty and ridiculous."

"The Ukrainians are more than capable of solving the quality of air problems themselves. What they need is help now to defeat a threat that is infinitely more dangerous, and that is president Putin. Khan's actions seem to be extraordinary," Johnson said.

Militarnyi has repeatedly reported on the transfer of various vehicles for the needs of the Ukrainian Defense Forces from Ukrainian and Western volunteers.

Mitsubishi L200 pickups of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade. December 2023, Ukraine. Photo credits: Come Back Alive Foundation

On December 20, it was reported that the Come Back Alive Foundation handed over 15 new 5th-generation Mitsubishi L200 pickup trucks to the 22nd Mechanized Brigade.

The total cost of the purchase is UAH 12,471,171.75 UAH. New vehicles are needed for the evacuation of wounded, as well as for the prompt delivery of ammunition, property, and fighters to the positions. The vehicles are used for various purposes.

Mobile groups with Mistral anti-aircraft missile systems were created on the basis of pickups in Ukraine.