Breaking News: Spanish Leopard 2 Tanks En Route to Ukraine, defense minister confirms
Six Leopard 2 tanks bound for Ukraine have left the Spanish port city of Santander in northern Spain and are en route to their destination, Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Saturday.
Robles told reporters that the tanks had left Santander “along with 20 heavy transport vehicles” and would take five to six days to travel by sea.”In six days, when they pass through another country, they will be in Ukraine,” she said.
Robles said last week that four more Leopard tanks, in addition to the current six, would be sent to Ukraine “as soon as possible” after being repaired.A total of 40 tank crew members and 15 mechanics also underwent training in Spain, Reuters reported.
Relying on outdated Soviet-era tanks during the Russian invasion, Ukraine appealed to the West to bolster Kiev’s forces with modern battle tanks. The Leopard’s relatively low maintenance requirements compared to other tank models mean it will suit the Ukrainians’ needs particularly well, experts said.
A Polish soldier walks next to Leopard 2 tanks during training at a military base and test range in Swietoszów, Poland, Monday, February 13, 2023. The training is part of the European Union’s military aid to Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers in Poland undergo a crash course in Leopard 2 tanks
Several armies around the world use Leopards, and around 2,000 Leopard 2 vehicles are thought to be deployed across Europe at various levels of readiness.
In recent months, the US, along with countries such as Poland, Finland and Great Britain, have pledged to send tanks to Ukraine.
Following international pressure, Germany announced a landmark decision in January to send Leopard 2 tanks to Kiev troops, angering Kremlin officials who sought to label the move as an act of aggression.
