Over the past week, Germany has handed over four more Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled guns to Ukraine, bringing their total to 24.

The German government published this information on Tuesday.

Another six Gepard units are being prepared for shipment to Ukraine.

The Gepard anti-aircraft self-propelled artillery is equipped with two 35 mm automatic guns, each of which can fire 550 rounds per minute and have an effective range of up to four kilometers. In real conditions, it fires in short bursts adapted to the target. Previously, the system's manufacturer had trained Ukrainian soldiers in Germany on how to use the systems.

In addition, 65 medical refrigerators were handed over in addition to the previous two items.

In July, Germany also provided Ukraine with three M270 MARS rocket launchers. Ten PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers and 10,500 shells for them were handed over to Kyiv in the summer.

Currently, Germany's military aid to Ukraine is worth $1.2 billion.

Earlier, the Welt outlet reported that Scholz had declined the request by Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to supply additional heavy weapons, including Leopard 2 tanks, in particular. 

Chancellor Olaf Scholz who represents the Social Democratic Party of Germany stood against providing Ukraine with the Western tanks, indicating that even big NATO partners were not supplying tanks directly, and that Germany did not want to do it alone.