Only a “very small number” of modern tanks delivered to Ukraine by Germany are still in use, a member of the Bundestag coalition has revealed.
Green Party MP and defense expert Sebastian Schäfer confirmed this week that the majority of the 18 Leopard 2 tanks supplied to Ukraine are no longer in service after being deployed to the battlefield last year.
“Unfortunately, I have to say that only a small number of the tanks delivered by Ukraine are usable,” he said in a letter to defense contractors. according to in german paper of record Welts.
Schäfer argued that the central problem facing the operability of German-supplied tanks, apart from being shot down in Russian attacks, was the lack of spare parts for repairs. The situation worsened when the Ukrainian military attempted to carry out repairs on its own, he said, but only caused further damage to the tank.
However, admitting that despite spare parts, most of the German tanks were shot down in one way or another on the battlefield against Russia would seriously undermine confidence in the Leopard 2 tank, the best land combat vehicle. Dew. In the German arsenal.The tank has been damaged before. embarrassing defeatThis includes attacks against the Islamic State in Syria.
Lots of tanks!Following battlefield defeats, Ukraine tells Germany to send more Leopard 2shttps://t.co/4lC4nq3Lyo
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) June 12, 2023
This situation also symbolizes the poor state of Germany's defense industry. The industry has been severely underfunded for decades, despite protests from former President Donald Trump and others who have long urged Berlin to meet NATO's defense spending requirements.
Although Germany is unlikely to meet NATO spending requirements again this year, Berlin has pledged to double aid to Ukraine this year from 4 billion euros to 8 billion euros.
Schaefer argued that Ukraine should be prepared to spend more to support the proxy war, noting that “we also need to be prepared for the fact that support from the United States will be reduced.” The Green Party politician said that although Germany is the second largest donor to Ukraine after the United States, its aid remains “inadequate” compared to the size of the country's economy.
In addition to increasing the production of spare parts for tanks, Berlin will “eventually take the Taurus long-range cruise missile from the Bundeswehr's stockpile” in order to put the Ukrainian army in a stronger position against the Russian army. “Delivery.''
555ComeOnNow.png https://t.co/bTXDuZCcmV
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) December 25, 2023
