Germany gives Ukraine new package of military assistance

The German federal government has announced the delivery of another batch of military assistance to Ukraine, which included ammunition for Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 47 anti-mine vehicles with ambush protection (MRAPs), one TRML-4D radar for an IRIS-T anti-air defence system, and four Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled guns with spare parts.

In addition, Germany provided 41,000 155-mm artillery rounds, 7 M109 self-propelled guns, 20 VECTOR reconnaissance drones with spare parts, 12 HORNET XR reconnaissance drones, 60 Golden Eagle reconnaissance drones, 2 VT-4 Rochen reconnaissance drones, 100 RQ-35 HEIDRUN reconnaissance drones, and 120 SONGBIRD reconnaissance drones.

The package also includes an armoured bridge-laying machine Beaver; three WISENT 1 demining systems with spare parts; three mine ploughs; eight Caracal tactical airborne vehicles; twenty border patrol cars, and six M1070 Oshkosh heavy semi-trailers.

Furthermore, the Germans provided 8,000 rocket-propelled grenades of 40 mm calibre; 74,000 rounds for high-precision HLR rifles of .338 calibre; 100,000 cartridges for small guns; 55,000 medical tourniquets, and 100,000 occlusive bandages.

The Ukrainian government insists that Germany should take the necessary decisions on further arms supplies to Ukraine before the early parliamentary elections to the Bundestag next year.

The preliminary draft of the German budget for 2025 allocates €4 billion euros to Ukraine, which is half the amount allocated in 2024.

In September, it was reported that the German government intends to provide Ukraine with another armaments package for €1.4 billion by the end of the year, despite the fact that the budget for military assistance to Kyiv has already been fully depleted.