Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the UK armed forces are taking to assist with humanitarian supplies in countries bordering Ukraine.

The UK was swift to provide immediate and practical humanitarian support to our allies and partners following Putin’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, with 1,000 military personnel both deployed and on standby as the Humanitarian Assistance Task Force (HATF). These troops have provided advice and support to the Polish Government’s humanitarian relief activities.

Whilst no formal requests for support have been received approximately 100 troops of the HATF are currently deployed in Poland and could rapidly be re-tasked to support any emerging requirements. In addition, 900 personnel are being held at progressive levels of readiness in the UK, with 40 vehicles forward based in Germany to provide a response to any emergent humanitarian tasking.

Humanitarian assistance is led by the FCDO. Neither the MOD nor the FCDO have reviewed any request for support from countries bordering Ukraine.