Kiev embarrasses Germany, again; rejects faulty Berlin Leopard tanks
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It still remains unclear whether the issues with the hardware had been caused by wear and tear, but this raises questions regarding Germany’s ability to supply Ukraine at critical stages.
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An armored unit with Leopard 2 A7 main battle tanks during educational practice at the military training area in Munster, Germany (AFP)
A delivery of Leopard tanks from Germany was rejected by Ukraine after discovering that they were defective upon receipt in the Polish city of Rzeszów.
It was found that 10 Leopard 1 tanks, the predecessor to the more advanced Leopard 2, required maintenance, which Kiev could not afford as a result of a lack of trained engineers, as per Germany’s Der Spiegel outlet.
When Germany sent its own technicians, it concluded that they weren't functioning properly which was embarrassing for Germany, as this is the second time this has occurred.
Germany has been repeatedly pressured by Ukraine for Leopard 2s, claiming that they were critical for passing through the defensive lines. Even though it was initially hesitant fearing it would escalate the war, it changed its course in January.
Read more: Germany's Leopards, IRIS-Ts not holding up well in Ukraine
It still remains unclear whether the issues with the hardware had been caused by wear and tear, but this raises questions regarding Germany’s ability to supply Ukraine at critical stages of its so-called counter-offensive.
Another request, another decision
At Ukraine's request, it was reported that Germany prioritized training tank crews over training repair technicians.
Earlier this year, military experts warned that creating effective logistics lines and technical training would be just what's needed to keep equipment flowing.
The Leopard 1 received its last repair and update in the 1990s and was decommissioned by Germany almost a decade ago.
This comes after Germany declared this week a new package of €400 million in military support to Ukraine, with the vast majority being munitions supplies.
On top of that, Ukraine has been after Taurus cruise missiles from Germany, but the latter has yet to make a decision.
Just earlier this month, the first batch of Leopard 1 tanks, which was a donation from Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands, arrived in Ukraine, with more on the way, as announced by Denmark's armed forces.
Read next: Poland may stop Ukraine support if public opinion against it: Minister
Keiv has repeatedly requested military aircraft to combat the Russian forces, but many of its Western allies have hesitated to provide such support. A particular point of contention has been the delayed delivery of US-made F16 fighter jets intended to modernize Ukraine's aging Soviet-era air fleet.
