2024-01-05 18:13:53
Of the 18 German-made Leopard 2AG tanks sent to Ukraine, only a few are still in service, the rest have been destroyed or broken down. Say this Sebastian SchäferGerman Green Party representative, the party’s defense expert.
The situation in Ukraine is very difficult at the moment. We need to do more at all levels, the government and industry need to do more.
– wrote on the X social site.
He also emphasized his position in a letter to Rheinmetall and the French arms company Nexter.
Footage of destroyed Leopard tanks on the battlefields of Ukraine was widely distributed on social media by pro-Russian platforms. Other countries also deployed their Leopard 2 tanks, but it is not yet clear how many of the tanks directly provided by Germany were able to be deployed.
So far, tanks have not had the impact on the battlefield that the Ukrainians had hoped for. Meanwhile, not only has the Ukrainian counterattack failed, but Russia is even on the front line to win.
Before Christmas, Schäfer visited a Lithuanian repair shop together with Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) to get an idea of the situation. Afterwards, the Green Party representative stated: “Unfortunately, it is clear that only a very small part of the delivered tanks can be used by Ukraine.”
He said that due to battlefield damage, wear and tear and unprofessional repair attempts by the Ukrainians, they were no longer combat-ready.
Obviously, there is also the problem that the Ukrainian military sometimes tries to repair the tanks, which then causes further damage.
– said Schäfer, adding that there is also a shortage of the necessary spare parts in Germany.
He suggested that the Ukrainians organize proper on-site maintenance training for mechanics or provide more understandable instructions on how to carry out repairs. Expensive removal of damaged tanks is not the best solution either.
Schaefer insists that more aid and weapons be sent to Ukraine to help win the war.
1704510714
#Ukrainian #front #Leopard #tanks #destroyed #blown
