Ministry of Defence gives Ukrainian soldiers free cigarettes
The Ministry of Defence gave Ukrainian soldiers free cigarettes despite Rishi Sunak's plan to ban smoking in the UK, it has emerged.
Former Defence Secretary Ben Wallace struck a deal with Oleksii Reznikov, the then Defence Minister of Ukraine, to allow tobacco donated by an international tobacco firm to the troops to be imported duty free as part of their rations.
A packet of 20 cigarettes in the UK has cost £15.67 since December - a large hike up from the £1.70 price tag in Ukraine.
The difference led to Ukrainian soldiers complaining they were too expensive, as well as there not being enough supply at training bases, The Telegraph reported.
There were also claims that the lack of cigarettes were impacting their concentration on training and morale.
The donated cigarettes from an unnamed tobacco firm raised concern in the MoD over the duty fees they could amount for importation. The charge is currently £394 per 1,000 cigarettes.
A Ukrainian solider smoking a cigarette outside Kharkiv, Ukraine in February 2022
The revelation comes just days after Rishi Sunak's (pictured) smoking ban cleared its first commons hurdle
The price difference in UK cigarettes compared to Ukraine led to Ukrainian soldiers complaining they were too expensive, as well as there not being enough supply at training bases. Pictured: An injured Ukrainian soldier smoking outside of a hospital in Kramatorsk
Any legal risks were advised by the Department of Health and Social Care and Mr Wallace, who was the defence secretary at the time, reportedly was given the all clear from the Treasury that the deal followed rules regarding the duty free importation of cigarettes as rations for important military operations.
This arrangement has only just been revealed but was made in 2022 after the first Ukrainian troops arrived in the UK for training as part of the MoDs Operation Interflex.
Alternative options, deemed healthier, were also offered including vapes and nicotine pouches, as well as information on smoking risks.
READ MORE: Everything you need to know about Rishi Sunak's smoking ban: When will law come into place? How will it work? And will it actually create a smoke-free generation?
AdvertisementA Ukrainian government source told The Telegraph: 'It was a very long and complicated bureaucratic process but we did it.
'It was hugely appreciated by our soldiers.'
An MoD spokesperson said: 'The UK has trained over 60,000 Ukrainian personnel, proving them with the battlefield skills they need to fight Putin's illegal invasion.
'Ukrainian recruits who were existing smokers could access cigarettes as part of their supplied ration packs. No public money was spent on cigarettes, and we ensured that healthier nicotine alternatives and advice were available.'
The revelation comes just days after Rishi Sunak's smoking ban cleared its first commons hurdle.
On April 16 MPs voted by 383 to 67 to give their backing to the UK Prime Minister's plans.
The House of Commons overwhelmingly approved the second reading of the Tobacco and Vapes Bill, which aims to phase in a ban on the sale of tobacco products.
A total of 165 Conservative MPs failed to back the PM's Bill, which was just under half the total of 347 Tory MPs in the Commons.
After the vote, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting swiped that it was 'only thanks to Labour MPs' that Mr Sunak saw his plans approved by the Commons.
'Rishi Sunak put this Bill at risk by granting a free vote, because he is too weak to stand up to the Liz Truss-wing of his party,' he said,
Ben Wallace (pictured), who was the defence secretary at the time, reportedly was given the all clear from the Treasury that the deal followed rules regarding the duty free importation of cigarettes as rations for important military operations
The deal was struck between Mr Wallace and Oleksii Reznikov (pictured) the then Defence Minister of Ukraine
'Labour first proposed a progressive ban on smoking more than a year ago, and it was only thanks to Labour MPs that this Bill passed.'
MailOnline previously went out onto the streets of London, Newcastle and Manchester to see what the public thought of the measures.
On Oxford Street nine year-old Charlotte, who will be effected by the introduction of the new laws, supported the measures, she said: 'The children of today don't want to be poisoning their lungs.'
Similarly Sam West, 34, thought that the implication of a ban can only be a good thing, as 'if you never start you can never become addicted.'
However ex-smoker Tracey, 54, who smoked for 20 years said how glad she was that she finally quit, but that ultimately 'it's about freedom.'