‘Rishi Sunak pledges to send a tank squadron to Ukraine as part of major spring offensive to reclaim territory seized by Russian forces’
- The UK will send 12 of its British Challenger 2 tanks in further support to Ukraine
- It’s hoped the tanks will help Ukraine launch a counter-offensive in the spring
- UK support may also persuade Germany to send its sought after Leopard II tanks
The UK will send a squadron of tanks to Ukraine as part of continued support to the country in its war efforts against Russia.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has approved the plan to support Ukraine with armoured vehicles, The Sun reported.
It would mark the first time in the war that Britain has supplied Ukraine with military tanks and would significantly ramp up Western support.
Providing additional tanks could assist Ukraine in taking back terroritory that Russia occupies and comes amid hope that Volodymyr Zelensky will be in a position to launch a decisive counter-offensive in the early spring.
The UK is set to send a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks (pictured) to Ukraine
It is understood Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has approved the plan to support Ukraine with the armoured vehicles. Pictured: Rishi Sunak leaves Downing Street, January 11, 2023
Rishi Sunak is set to inform Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky of the additional military assistance later on Saturday.
The transfer of the tank squadron may also be a major step in persuading Germany to send its much-sought after Leopard II tanks.
The Sun reported that a Downing Street source said that Mr Sunak wanted ‘action to speak louder than words’.
A total of 12 of Britain’s Challenger 2 tanks will be provided to Ukraine as part of the additional support. Initially, four will be deployed to the war-torn country before another eight are sent at a later date.
Challenger 2 tanks are a pride of British military machinery and have been in operation for almost 25 years. It weighs 62.5 tonnes, with a 120mm rifled gun and 7.62mm chain gun.
Ukraine’s military has previously said it requires around 300 tanks from allied countries to continue its war efforts in liberating the country.
The military contributions to Ukraine will go towards hope that Zelensky will be in a position to launch a decisive counter-offensive in the early spring. Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen stand on their tanks in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, January 13, 2023
Former commander of 1st Royal Tank Regiment, Colonel Hamish de Bretton Gordon, previously said that use of western tanks could ‘tip the balance’ of the war for Ukraine.
He said: ‘Strategically this sends a very firm message to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that nothing is off the table
‘Challenger 2 and Leopard II are modern tanks. They are much better protected, more reliable, quicker.’
France, Germany and the US have already signalled plans to send armoured vehicles to help Ukraine – the AMX-10, the Marder and the Bradley respectively – although they are not classed as ‘true tanks’.
But at the top of Ukraine’s shopping list are the Leopard II battle tanks, which Germany has not yet supplied.
Other European nations who use the Leopard II tanks, including Poland and Finland, have said they are ready to provide them, but this requires approval from Germany – which holds the export licence.
A squadron of British Challenger 2 tanks have been on tour in Estonia this week as part of a NATO mission to offset any further Russian interference in eastern Europe. The tanks previously served with distinction in the Bosnian conflict in 1994 and the Iraq War in 2003.
MailOnline has contacted Downing Street for comment.
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