Leopard 2 Tank Arrives in Ukraine, German Defense Minister: Can Make a Decisive Contribution at the Frontline

Illustration of the transport of the German Leopard 2 tank. (Wikimedia Commons/Tobias Nordhausen)

JAKARTA - A total of 18 Leopard 2 battle tanks promised by Germany to help in the fight against Russia have arrived in Ukraine, the German Ministry of Defense said on Monday.

Germany approved the delivery of one of the best main battle tanks (MBT) in the world in January, after long considerations and discussions at home and with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies.

It takes into account the anticipation of direct conflict with Russia. Moscow regards the delivery of tanks as a dangerous provocation. While Kyiv considered it very important to defeat the invasion of his elder brother.

"I am sure they can make a decisive contribution on the front line," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a tweet, reported by Reuters, March 28.

In addition to the 18 tanks, 40 German Marder infantry fighting vehicles and two armored recovery vehicles have also reached Ukraine, a security source said.

It is known that German soldiers trained Ukrainian tank crews as well as troops assigned to operate Marder vehicles for several weeks in Muenster and Bergen in northern Germany.

A Ukrainian soldier compared the German Leopard 2 tank to a Mercedes Benz, as he underwent training with the tank ahead of its arrival on the battlefield, hoping it would bring about a breakthrough in the war.

"It is very important for us to use these modern weapons wisely, these weapons will bring about a breakthrough and in the end we will win," the soldier said.

Last January, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he hoped to receive 120 to 140 Western tanks in the "first wave" of deliveries from the 12-nation coalition, including Germany's Leopard 2, with time needed for training.

Apart from the German Leopard 2 tanks, three Leopard tanks donated by Portugal have also arrived in Ukraine, the security sources said.

Versprochen - Geliefert:

18 #Leopard 2 A6 #Kampfpanzer plus Munition und Ersatzteilpakete sind heute in der #Ukraine angekommen. #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/qTufPZHL9T

— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) March 27, 2023