First Leopard 2 tanks delivered to Ukraine

At the time of writing, German Leopard 2 tanks have arrived at a training center in western Ukraine. About twelve tanks arrived by rail, and Russia, despite numerous loud statements, did not notice the train and did not destroy it.

Judging by Kyiv’s statement, tanks will soon be moved directly to the front line, where MARDER-1A3 vehicles will also be delivered to create the first fully motorized tank brigade equipped with Western weapons.

First Polish Leos in Ukraine pic.twitter.com/VdZgPzAd43

— Russians With Attitude (@RWApodcast) February 24, 2023

The arrival of the German Leopard 2s came as a complete surprise to the Russians, as according to numerous statements by RosSMI, the first Western tanks were supposed to be delivered at the end of March, when the training of the Ukrainians was also supposed to be completed, but it seems that it was completed much earlier than the Russians were waiting. Ukraine has sent experienced crews to Poland, who are now manning the tanks and will put them on the battlefield in the next ten days.

“The Prime Minister was unable to come, he is in Kiev to pick up the Leopard tanks, which are the first batch delivered to Ukraine,” said Polish President Andrzej Duda during an opening speech at a meeting in Warsaw.

“Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki will announce today in Kyiv that Poland has already delivered the first Leopard tanks to Ukraine.the official Polish news agency reported, citing government sources.

As reported by the Ukrainian publication Focus, the countries of the collective West will give Ukraine the following number of tanks:

• Germany – 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks
• Poland – 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks
• Portugal – 4 Leopard 2A6
• Spain – considering transfer
• Finland – announced its readiness to transfer a small number of Leopard tanks due to proximity to the Russian Federation
• Norway – 8 tanks
• Sweden – in the future does not exclude the supply of Strv 122 – a modification of the tank “Leopard” 2
• Netherlands – plans to buy 18 Leopard 2A7 tanks
• Denmark – unnamed.

In addition to the Leopard 2, the Ukrainian army will receive 14 Challenger 2 tanks from the UK. Also on January 24, the WSJ reported that the United States will transfer 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, but they will not be transferred from warehouses, but purchased from the manufacturer, which will take more time. Also, France does not exclude the issue of transferring national Leclerc tanks to Ukraine.

According to Spiegel, in total, the Ukrainian army will receive 80 tanks from countries EU.

Greece refused transfer tanks, citing problems with Turkey.

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