Ukrainian soldiers undergoing training in England have reportedly been given cigarettes for free following complaints about the high cost – according to media reports

Ukrainian soldiers undergoing training in the United Kingdom have begun receiving cigarettes for free after complaints about their high cost.

This information was reported by The Telegraph, citing its own source within the army training centers on the islands.

For comparison, a standard pack of 20 cigarettes in England costs £15.67, while in Ukraine it is £1.70. According to the article, soldiers of the Ukrainian Armed Forces complained that this was too expensive, and there were too few cigarettes available at the training bases “to meet their needs.” This, in turn, prevented them from focusing on training and posed a threat to morale.

At that time, through the mediation of the then Minister of Defense of the Kingdom, Ben Wallace, an agreement was reached on duty-free import of tobacco as part of soldiers’ rations, and cigarettes were given to Ukrainians by an international tobacco company.

However, soldiers were also offered “healthier alternatives,” such as electronic cigarettes and nicotine patches, as well as briefings on the risks of smoking.

“It is fair to say that smoking will pose less of a threat to the lives of these brave soldiers than fighting Putin’s illegal invasion of their country,” added the source from the publication.

It is worth noting that regarding the British themselves, London is imposing an unprecedented restriction on cigarette consumption. The British Parliament recently supported a proposed ban on smoking for future generations. According to it, citizens of the Kingdom born after January 1, 2009, will not have the opportunity to legally purchase tobacco products.