A large logistics hub for Ukraine will be opened in Romania: when will it start working?
22 December 01:18
In Europe, the second largest NATO logistics center will start operating in January 2026, coordinating and providing arms supplies to Ukraine. It will be located in Romania.
This was stated by NATO Deputy Commander for Support to Ukraine Mike Keller, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports citing Defense Romania.
According to the publication, the logistics hub will work by analogy and in tandem with the existing center in Rzeszow (Poland).
Thanks to the new center, NATO will be able to double the maximum volume of military aid transit that partners supply to Ukraine. In particular, this applies to the PURL mechanism, according to which the United States sells weapons to Ukraine and European countries pay for them.
Defense Romania notes that until now, the Rzeszow base has been the main transportation artery through which Ukraine has received weapons to enable it to conduct combat operations. However, dependence on a single major checkpoint posed strategic risks and vulnerabilities.
In turn, the launch of the center in Romania, scheduled for the end of January, will provide NATO with a stable southern route necessary to supply the frontline in Donbas and coastal areas.
“The new center in Romania will come under NATO’s direct command and will be integrated into a system for matching operational requirements (artillery, air defense, electronic warfare) with donor capabilities,” the publication says.
General Keller also spoke about the scale of assistance to Ukraine. According to him, in 2025, partners delivered about 220 thousand tons of military supplies. The operation was supported by 9,000 trucks, 1,800 railroad cars and more than 500 strategic airlifts.
Keller also described how the US supplies arms to Ukraine through the PURL mechanism.
“The United States does not wait for final payment before starting the delivery. As soon as the PURL package is announced, the delivery of materials begins,” he said.
