The Ministry of Defence has confirmed it took additional security steps after removing a social media video showing a British-run military repair facility in Ukraine, following a series of parliamentary questions about the incident.
Conservative MP James Cartlidge tabled multiple questions after the video, posted on 7 March 2026 and showing Defence Minister Luke Pollard visiting one of the UK’s maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities in Ukraine, was taken down. He wanted to know who ordered the removal, whether the MoD received external advice to do so, how long the video was online, what security measures followed, and whether any assessment had been made of the potential risk to UK personnel.
Pollard gave the same answer to all questions, saying the content had been approved by MoD officials before it went out but that “because we take security seriously, we took steps to further reassure ourselves after publication of this content.” He did not address any of the specific questions directly, however.
The minister was clear the MoD stood behind the broader decision to publicise the facilities, describing them as “pioneering” and saying the department was “rightly proud” of the support being provided to Ukraine. “From the factory floor to the frontline, the UK is standing with Ukraine and we will never waver in that support,” he said.
The video had been posted alongside a Guardian article intended to highlight the existence of the UK’s repair facilities in Ukraine, which had been kept out of the public eye to avoid drawing Russian attention to them. It was taken down within hours after concerns were raised that details visible in the footage could allow the location to be identified.
Very strange….blur out the background?
UK MOD struggles to do enough comms at the best of times.
In other words….GRANDSTANDING.
They did not need to publicise them.
Pollard got his photo op then has run for the hills?
Also, did any other nationals run a story, or just the Guardian?
Grandstanding is all we get now, I assume an attempt to hide the lack of substance in current defence related matters. Defence is at the point where we really thought it couldn’t get worse, but this Government keep exceeding expectations, this story isn’t even surprising at this point considering what a joke their approach to defence in general.
Talking of grandstanding, Healey is on SM having made a slick propaganda video on how Labour is “delivering on Defence.”
The comments in response are not positive, given the spin they are putting on it.
They fool nobody.
An article here on UKDJ disecting it would be hilarious.
I find him nauseating, does he actually believe what the MoD spin doctors are telling him to say?
As Gabs on UKDJ says in response, almost everything on order was ordered by others, not this government.
They’ll still take credit for it though.
It just further highlights how wrong the mindset on defence is for the Government and some of the people in the MOD, a video for a quick pat on the back because they can’t get it for anything else they’re doing defence wise.
Operational security of a vital asset in a country at war or a quick photo op for publicity for a government in a country not at war ? Shouldn’t even be a question that needed asking, let alone get wrong.
Literally a Schoolboy Error – Geolocation works internally for Buildings as well as Externally.
exactly!
i know of at least 1 previous case where the internal structural supporting beams of a critical manufacturing facility were used to identify a Ukrainian location
russian OSInt gatherers are very good at using either local knowledge, or previously released imagery, to confirm a location
To the present government the services are only an excuse for civilian jobs. Producing material of all sorts for defence not war. Defence as for a steady number of photo opportunities of prove how many jobs we have provided. Not war as you might kill someone, if you use the ammunition or require equipment replacing before we can sell it to someone else for money to again prove how much we have saved on defence. All defence ministers should be required to have served in the armed services for at least five years as a minimum qualification for their position as a defence minister. To give them the right frame of mind to prepare for war.
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