Leopard 2 Tanks Arriving in Kiev: Netherlands and Denmark Lead Delivery
The Netherlands and Denmark will soon deliver 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev. These tanks, which have been fully repaired by the German defence company Rheinmetall, are scheduled for delivery to Ukraine by the end of summer 2024, following several months of testing.
This announcement was made on Thursday, July 25, by the Netherlands Ministry of Defense. While the exact delivery date has not been disclosed, it has been confirmed that the first 12 tanks are already prepared for shipment. The completion of testing for the remaining two tanks is anticipated soon, allowing for the simultaneous delivery of the entire batch, according to DW.
"Ukraine urgently needs increased military support given the challenging conditions on the battlefield. These tanks could play a crucial role for the Ukrainian army in defending against Russian forces," said Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans in the press release. He also affirmed that the Netherlands, together with its allies and partners, will continue to support Ukraine in its defence against Russian military aggression for as long as necessary.
The delivery of these tanks was planned six months ago. The Netherlands is part of an international coalition providing modern battle tanks to Ukraine. In April 2023, the authorities announced their intention, alongside Denmark, to transfer 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev.
The Leopard 2 is the main battle tank of the Bundeswehr and is used by Austria, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Greece, and Finland. Since its introduction in 1979, over 3,600 units of this tank have been produced in various versions.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
