An organisation set up to help get supplies to Ukraine for the war effort against Vladimir Putin’s Russia is pleading with Home Secretary James Cleverly to release thousands of confiscated small boats used by illegal migrants to them.
The Home Office is resisting handing over the small boats which have brought thousands of illegal migrants across the English Channel, but Express.co.uk has been told that they could play a significant role in defeating Russia.
Already Mission Ukraine UK has purchased military grade boats in Britain to send to the war effort.
Alex Kruglyak, co-founder and executive of Mission Ukraine UK, explained that the boats are needed to help with his country’s push to retake Crimea from the Russians.
Ukrainian special forces have bravely crossed the Dnipro River and established bridgeheads to allow for a push toward Crimea.
Mr Kruglyak said: “We need boats to maintain supply lines and to reinforce the position. While we have purchased boats in Britain, the boats confiscated from the human trafficking gangs by Border Force would be really helpful in the war effort.”
He was dismissive of concerns that the boats were in too poor a condition to be operational.
He told Express.co.uk: “At the very least the motorboard engines would be useful and even poor quality boats can be used as decoys against the Russians.”
He likened the operation to Ukraine’s version of D-Day and said small boats are needed “because they can allow crossings to take place quietly and get past Russian observations”.
However, his efforts have met with a dismissive and worrying response from Border Force which is run by the Home Office.
They said: “The majority of boats are not fit for resale or to ever go to sea again. These boats also deteriorate and perish over the period, and are therefore often destined for recycling. The boat engines might also be sold at auction, but again over time they are no longer in operation or require additional funds to bring their condition back to normal.”
A senior Home Office source also told Express.co.uk: “The sad truth is the boats being used by the traffickers are a long way from being mil-grade. Indeed some you wouldn’t trust your kids on in a pond.”
The source pointed out that over time the quality of boats has become worse to improve the profit margins for smugglers.
However, Mr Kruglyak points out that the boats are needed for a much shorter river crossing, not the sea and emphasises that poor quality ones can be used as decoys to trick the Russians.
The response from Border Force also has led to questions over who will be buying the engines at auction.
