Finnish Defense Minister Antti Kaikkonen says Finland has decided to send its 14th defense aid package to Ukraine, which includes three additional Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks suitable for mine clearing, which follows the previous announcement of the delivery of three other such vehicles in February, Uusi Suomi reports. In addition, Finland will provide training for their use and maintenance.
"In this package, Finland is handing over 3 Leopard 2 armored mine-clearing vehicles to Ukraine," Kaikkonen said at his press conference in the parliament.
Finland has previously decided to deliver only three Leopards, so, in total, Finland will provide Ukraine with six Leopard 2 vehicles, MTV Uutiset says
.
According to the Finnish Ministry of Defense, the aid package also contains "heavy weapons and munitions."
Announcing the previous transfer of Finnish mine-clearing Leopard tanks to Ukraine in February, then-interim Defense Minister Mikko Savola clarified that the vehicles are based on the 2A4 type Leopards equipped with machine guns and are intended to be used to clear ground mines before the main battle tanks are brought onto the battlefield.
Read also:
- Norway delivers eight Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
- Sweden to send Ukraine 10 Leopard 2 tanks, Spain four more, Norway with US two NASAMS systems – Ramstein-10 results (updated)
- Ukrainian soldiers wrap up Leopard 2A4 tank training in Spain – Reuters
- Poland already sent 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as Ukrainian crews finished training on them – Polish Defense Minister
- Finland could consider supplying F/A-18 Hornet combat aircraft to Ukraine – PM Marin
- Finland can’t afford sending Hornet jets to Ukraine before replacement F-35As arrive – Finnish Air Force Commander
- Finland promises €400 million of aid to Ukraine, could add Leopards – Reuters
- Finland permits Estonia howitzers and ammunition re-export to Ukraine
