Ukraine has received three tanks of the type from Germany.
(Photo: dpa)
Ukraine has received the first Gepard anti-aircraft tanks from Germany. “Today the first three cheetahs officially arrived,” Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said on Ukrainian television on Monday. Several tens of thousands of shots were also handed over.
Twelve more Gepard tanks are expected. The delivery is based on an agreement with Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) in May. Ukraine has been fending off a Russian invasion since late February and has repeatedly urged to strengthen its own air defenses.
It is the second shipment of heavy weapons that Germany has handed over to Ukraine. In June, the German government had already delivered heavy artillery pieces to Ukraine in the form of the Panzerhaubitze 2000. The Panzerhaubitze is the Bundeswehr’s most modern artillery piece with a range of 40 kilometers. At that time, Ukraine received a total of seven guns.
In addition to the cheetahs, Ukraine is primarily waiting for the modern Iris-T air defense systems from Germany. These should better protect the country from Russian missile attacks. However, the Iris-T is reportedly not scheduled to arrive until the fall.
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Discussion about delivery of main battle tanks and armored personnel carriers
In Germany, the delivery of battle tanks and armored personnel carriers to the Ukraine is currently being discussed. So far, the direct delivery of these has not been an option for the federal government. From the ranks of the Greens and the FDP, however, corresponding demands have now come because there are problems with the so-called ring exchange for the supply of Ukraine with heavy weapons.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) agreed on the deal with her Ukrainian counterpart in May.
(Photo: dpa)
The idea of ring exchange arose shortly after the start of the war. To this end, Eastern NATO partners should provide weapons of Soviet design that Ukrainian soldiers can handle without additional training. As a replacement, they were to receive western makes from alliance partners such as Germany.
Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) agreed in May with her Ukrainian counterpart that Ukraine should receive the first 15 Gepard anti-aircraft gun tanks from German industry stocks in July.
>> Read here: Military Expert Explains West’s Dilemma – Ukraine’s ammunition shortage problem will remain
After a struggle for the delivery of heavy weapons, the manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann had received the political green light from the federal government to sell the technically refurbished anti-aircraft tanks from former Bundeswehr stocks. The cheetah can also be used in combat against ground targets.
More: The current news in the Ukraine war in the Newsblog