Spanish Leopard 2 tanks are on their way to Ukraine, defense minister confirms
This is the first batch of 38 tanks Spain is sending to Ukraine as part of a training and military cooperation agreement between the two countries.Six tanks from a batch of 38 that Spain is sending to Ukraine as part of a training and military cooperation agreement have left the port city of Santan
CNN
Six Leopard 2 tanks bound to Ukraine have left Santander, a Spanish port in northern Spain. They are on their way there.
Robles said that the tanks, along with 20 heavy vehicles, left Santander and that the journey by sea would last between five and six days.
She said, 'In just six days they'll be in Ukraine after passing through another country.
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Robles announced last week that, after repairs, four additional Leopard tanks would be sent to Ukraine.
Reuters reported that 40 tank crewmen and 15 mechanics were also trained in Spain.
Ukraine relied on Soviet-era tanks during the Russian invasion, and appealed to Western countries for modern battle tanks in order to strengthen Kyiv’s forces.
Experts have stated that the Leopard tank model is particularly suitable for Ukrainian needs because it requires relatively little maintenance compared to its counterparts.
Around 2,000 Leopard 2 vehicles are thought to be spread out across Europe at various levels of readiness.
Recently, the US along with other countries like Poland, Finland, and the UK, pledged to send tanks into Ukraine.
Germany, under international pressure in January, announced that it would be sending Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv’s troops. This angered Kremlin officials. They tried to portray the move as a form of aggression against Russia.