The Ministry of Defense has launched a program to recycle old tires: how the new production will help the Armed Forces of Ukraine
17 March 02:29
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has launched a specialized production line for recycling used automobile tires and rubber components from military vehicles. The resulting secondary raw materials are planned to be used for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, specifically for the manufacture of technical rubber sheets and coatings. This was reported by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
The new production line operates on the premises of one of the military units and is equipped with Ukrainian-made machinery. It is designed to recycle tires from cars, armored personnel carriers, and other wheeled vehicles that are no longer in use.
It is expected that the line will be able to process up to 1,000 tons of rubber waste annually.
What products are obtained after processing
The recycling of tires produces rubber crumbs, which will be used to manufacture:
- rubber sheets
- technical coatings
- flooring for repair areas
- materials for hangar construction
- flooring for maintenance and repair facilities
These materials will primarily be used in the repair units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
How much the Ministry of Defense saves
According to the ministry’s estimates, launching its own recycling operations will significantly reduce costs for disposal and the purchase of materials.
Key economic benefits:
- savings on tire disposal—from 200,000 to 400,000 UAH per 1,000 tons
- in-house production of rubber sheets instead of purchasing them
- the ability to sell surplus rubber crumbs
- total economic benefit — up to 15 million UAH per year
Monthly production volume is estimated at approximately 1.2 million hryvnias.
Initial results
Since the line was launched in November 2025, approximately 20 tons of rubber crumb have already been produced.
The Ministry of Defense notes that this is just the beginning of the project, as there is significant potential for scaling up.
Plans for production expansion
According to the ministry, military units currently have over 13,000 tons of worn-out tires in storage. That is why the possibility of expanding production capacity is being considered.
In the long term, this could allow for:
- completely solve the problem of old tire disposal
- increase budget savings
- expand in-house production of materials
- create additional sources of revenue.
Why this is important
The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that such projects help not only save budget funds but also implement the principles of the circular economy even in the military sector.
This also allows repair units to be supplied with necessary materials more quickly without relying on suppliers.
