The first of the Leopard 2 tanks Canada is donating to Ukrainian forces has arrived in Poland.
Defence Minister Anita Anand announced the news in a tweet on Sunday, accompanied by a photo of a tank rolling out of the belly of a plane.
“Alongside our allies, we’ll soon be training the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the use of this equipment,” she stated in the tweet. “Canada will continue to #StandWithUkraine.”
Canada pledged at the end of January to send four battle tanks to Ukraine to aid in their continuing battle against Russian forces, which invaded the country nearly a year ago.
The tanks will be accompanied by Canadian Armed Forces members to train Ukrainian soldiers in their use, with the training taking place in a third country before the tanks see battle.
The move came shortly after Germany and the United States announced Jan. 25 they would be organizing the shipment of dozens of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. In response, Poland called on Germany to allow more countries such as Canada to ship the Leopard 2 tanks, which are German-made, to Ukraine.
The first Canadian Leopard 2 main battle tank that we've donated to Ukraine has now arrived in Poland. Alongside our allies, we’ll soon be training the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the use of this equipment.
Canada will continue to #StandWithUkraine. 🇨🇦🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/ylO6rQaJWb
— Anita Anand (@AnitaAnandMP) February 6, 2023
