Ukraine is still waiting for the promised Leopard tanks. Good news is now coming from Finland, which will deliver three Leopard 2 armored mine clearance vehicles. In addition, Ukrainians would be trained on it, assures Defense Minister Savola.
Finland will deliver three armored mine clearance vehicles to Ukraine. Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola announced that three Leopard 2 tanks would be made available. "They don't have cannons, they have a machine gun. They are specially designed for demining," the minister stressed. Of the 200 Leopard 2 tanks in Finland, only six are converted to mine clearance vehicles. The Leopard 2 is primarily known as a main battle tank. However, some countries have converted it for other needs, such as demining or laying bridges.
"We will send more defense materials and participate in the Leopard cooperation together with our partners," he said. The help also includes "training" on the use and maintenance of the equipment. Only on Wednesday did Spain pledge to deliver six older Type 2A4 Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz had promised Ukraine in January the delivery of battle tanks and armored personnel carriers. In March, the Bundeswehr is to hand over 14 modern A6 Leopard 2 main battle tanks to the Ukrainian army. In addition, the country is to receive 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles. Ukrainian soldiers are currently being trained on the Leopard at the Munster military training area in Lower Saxony.
When announcing its delivery of tanks, the federal government had actually announced the goal of providing Ukraine, together with partner countries, with a battalion of the modern Leopard 2 A6 type, that would be 31 tanks. Initially, however, only 17 tanks came together, after Portugal was the only country to agree to three more Leopards of this type. The German government had recently pushed partner countries to supply Leopard tanks.
