ΙΣΠΑΝΙΑ
- 27 Apr 2023
- international
After the Catholic Easter week, Spain is expected to deliver six Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine, according to Defense Minister Margarita Robles.
It is noted that Spain had announced at the end of February the dispatch of these tanks. "These six tanks (…) will be sent to Ukraine after Easter week," the minister said in the House of Representatives, that is, from April 10 onwards.
These Leopard 24As, which are stored at a military base in Zaragoza (north), were no longer in use for several years and needed to be repaired.
The Spanish army, which trained Ukrainian soldiers in their use, is now conducting final tests on the tanks before they are handed over, the minister said.
On a visit to Kiev, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced on February 23 that Madrid could send four more. "These four additional tanks will have to be repaired," Robles confirmed, without referring to the timing of their future deployment to Ukraine.
Germany confirmed on Monday that it has delivered 18 Leopards to Kiev, which also recently received British Challengers.
