Germany Sends Howitzers And Ammunitions, Slovenia Gives 28 Tanks To Ukraine

Illustration of the Slovenia M-55S Tank. (Wikimedia Commons/AndrejS.K)

JAKARTA - Ukraine is planned to receive 28 units of modified tanks from Slovenia, after Germany agreed to send military vehicles for Ljubljana.

The M-55S Tank is the latest part of the former Warsaw Pact equipment to be delivered to Ukraine, to fight against a Russian invasion that has entered its seventh month.

The upgraded version of the decades-old Soviet T-55 tank inherited from the former negligee was designed to destroy enemy vehicles on the battlefield.

Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob said the tanks were donated "in the spirit of solidarity with the Ukrainian people," reported The National News September 20.

The arrangements were made by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, during a phone call with PM Golob on Monday, for Slovenia to be compensated with German equipment.

Germany will refill Slovenian stock with 40 military transport vehicles, including 35 heavy hook loaders and five water carriers, the Golob PM office said.

It is known that Western countries such as Germany often choose this indirect route, rather than sending tanks directly to Ukraine.

Separately, the Ministry of Defense in Berlin announced yesterday that four German howitzers and the necessary ammunition would be delivered to Ukraine.

A total of German-made howitzers shipped to Ukraine were 22, including eight owned and forwarded by the Dutch military.

However, serious debates arose regarding the delivery of the country-made Leopard tank, as Kyiv requested. One of the considerations is that the main combat tank's concern fell into Russia's hands.