01/15/2023 02:05 (act. 01/15/2023 02:05)
Ukraine will receive Challenger 2 tanks in the coming weeks ©APA/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
In the coming weeks, Britain plans to supply Ukraine with 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks. The announcement was made by the government in London on Saturday night. UK defense and security officials see an opportunity to act while Russia “is on the defensive due to supply shortages and diminished morale (of its troops).”
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak therefore wanted to “encourage allies” to roll out their support for Ukraine planned for 2023 “as soon as possible in order to achieve maximum effect”. On Friday next week, the defense ministers of Ukraine’s western allies will discuss more military support for the country attacked by Russia at the American air base in Ramstein, in Rhineland-Palatinate.
Britain announced on Saturday afternoon – initially without giving specific figures – that it would deliver some of its main Challenger main battle tanks to the Ukrainian armed forces. Poland and Finland agreed to supply Leopard tanks as part of the European alliance. The German government has not yet taken a position on this. Until now, Ukraine has not received any Western-style main battle tanks, only Soviet models from the stockpiles of Eastern European NATO countries.
Ukraine has long demanded the delivery of the German Leopard 2 tank, which is technically superior to Russian tanks – and also much more widespread than the Challenger 2. In addition to Great Britain, the British tank is in stock only in the state of the Gulf of Oman . That makes it less attractive to Kyiv than the Leopard, which is used by 20 countries around the world, given possible suppliers and the availability of ammunition and spare parts.
In addition to main battle tanks, London has already offered Ukraine about 30 AS90 self-propelled howitzers. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace will explain the details of the bill to parliament on Monday, Downing Street said. According to him, training of the Ukrainian armed forces on the use of tanks and self-propelled howitzers should begin in the coming days.