KYIV - An auto garage in Kyiv is giving battered vehicles a second life as battle-ready transport for Ukraine’s military, trying to plug a supply gap as the war with Russia grinds on.Russia invaded in FebruaryNow its mechanics spend long days working on cars, vans, trucks and buses requested by the military for tasks including transporting weaponry and surveillance drones.
“Very often, there are breakdowns with cars in peacetime. But in wartime, such a breakdown can lead to a tragedy,” he said.The vehicles are donated or purchased by fundraising Ukrainian volunteers, who often import them from neighbouring countries, including Poland, Latvia and Estonia. That often means replacing suspensions and braking systems and can also involve combat-specific modifications like adding a turret or a mount for a Starlink Internet dish.While two-wheel drives were once useful in some hotspots, the rough eastern terrain where fighting is now concentrated requires four-wheel drives, preferably with off-road tires.
“When you see that cars last in the field for months, it really warms the soul. It also inspires us,” Mr Samoilenko said.