The counteroffensive that Ukraine has been announcing for weeks with the arrival of spring begins to take shape. The condition sine qua non so that it is fulfilled, beyond the end of winter, is the acceleration in arms shipments from the western allies. In this sense, the reception this Tuesday of the first British-built Challenger 2 tanks, together with the 18 German Leopard 2s that set foot on Ukrainian soil yesterday, represent a breath of hope for the invaded town.
“These tanks, supplied by the United Kingdom, have recently arrived in our country,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said on Twitter, riding one of these battle tanks. “It was a pleasure to take a spin with the first Ukrainian Challenger 2 MBT. These fantastic machines will soon begin their combat missions,” he added.
In addition, the tanks have not arrived alone: along with them, the Ministry of Defense announced that the Ukrainian soldiers who had been training in the United Kingdom for weeks to learn how to handle them too have completed their training and they will return to the front lines.
It was a pleasure to take the first Ukrainian Challenger 2 MBT for a spin.
Such tanks, supplied by the United Kingdom, have recently arrived in our country.
These fantastic machines will soon begin their combat missions.
Thank you, @RishiSunak, @BWallaceMPand the ?? people. pic.twitter.com/zoCRmKdBnN— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) March 28, 2023
In the images released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, at least six Challenger 2 can be seen where yellow and blue flags wave. In this way, the United Kingdom fulfills part of its January promise to deliver 14 tanks to the Ukrainian Army. Reznikov thanked the shipment and, with his thumb raised, said in English “wonderful, ben, that’s fantastic, thank you very much“, referring to his British counterpart Ben Wallace.
leopard 2 german
The German Defense Ministry reported on Monday that 18 Leopard 2 main battle tanks and 40 Marder light infantry fighting vehicles They have also already reached Ukraine. Subsequently, Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed the delivery from Rotterdam.
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“We have delivered them exactly as announced,” said Scholz with mark ruttePrime Minister of the Netherlands, with whom he reached an agreement regarding the joint military supply to kyiv.
“We are in full agreement on issues such as the supply of arms and ammunition to Ukraine, and also on other matters such as the kidnapping of Ukrainian children by Russia that are taking place during this terrible war of aggression,” Rutte said.
At first, Germany was going to deliver 14 of its tanks, the same units as the United Kingdom. However, he ended up adding four more to the package to achieve the goal of assemble two battalions of Leopard 2.
In addition, in a few days it is expected that the integration of a combat unit from the Netherlands Army into another from Germany (the 13th Light Brigade within an armored combat panzer division) in search of a closer association of the armed forces of these two countries in the NATO.
On this point, Rutte assured that it is “a almost complete integration“, while Scholz considered “very special that both Armies are so intertwined”. Ukraine, which has already received Leopard 2 poles -the first Western country to make the handover- hopes to take advantage of these good relations between Germany and the Netherlands.
France will double its aid
France will also boost the Ukrainian counteroffensive by doubling its supplies of 155 artillery shells to reach the approximate figure of 2,000 shells per monthas his Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Tuesday.
Ukraine has identified the supply of 155mm shells as one of its main needs on the Bakhmut front. The war of attrition has led to both sides firing thousands of artillery shells every day.
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“We are doubling the delivery of 155mm shells to bring it to 2,000 a month from the end of March,” Lecornu said in an interview published Tuesday with Le Figaro newspaper. In addition, he added that Paris also plans to push for a fund that would allow kyiv buy French weapons.
However, Ukrainian and Western leaders have warned in recent weeks that kyiv is burning up shells faster than its allies can replenish them, leading to a renewed push to send supplies and find ways to increase production.
To this end, France and Australia agreed in February on an agreement whereby Canberra would provide gunpowder, which is not produced in France, which will allow arms producer Nexter to make 155mm rounds. This alliance will help deliveries of shells to Ukraine are faster.
The countries of the European Union agreed on March 20 a plan of 2,000 million euros to send a million artillery shells Ukraine over the next year by digging into their own reserves and banding together to buy more shells.
France is also looking to provide a New AMX-10 RC Light Armored Fighting Vehicle Pack after completing delivery of a first batch this month, two French officials told Reuters.
