Today, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the date for the delivery of Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine.
Pistorius stated that supplying Ukraine with an additional 80 Leopard 1 tanks will begin in the middle of this year.
“In March, we delivered to Ukraine 18 Leopard 2A6 vehicles and 40 Marder vehicles, in addition to other equipment, such as spare parts and ammunition,” the German defense minister said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper “La Vanguardia” published today.
Pistorius indicated that Germany succeeded, by putting pressure on the allies, in providing more support, and ended up securing a battalion, pointing out that the supply of Leopard 1A5 tanks had just begun, according to Russia Today.
Besides, more than 100 Ukrainian servicemen began training on the Leopard 1 this week, the German defense minister added.
Pistorius considered that Berlin is the main pillar of Ukraine in the European Union.
Deputy Prime Minister of Russia visits Bakhmut, Ukraine
Earlier today, it was announced Marat Khosnullin, a Russian deputy prime minister, said he visited the ruined city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine and vowed that Moscow would rebuild it.
“I visited Artemovsk,” Khosnullin said on Telegram, using the Russian name for Bakhmut. “The city is damaged, but it can be rebuilt…we have the necessary experience.”
“As soon as the situation permits, we will start working step by step,” he added.
His message was accompanied by a video tape showing a square covered with rubble, which appears to be Freedom Square in the center of Bakhmut, according to the buildings shown in the pictures.
Russian missile attacks targeted the Ukrainian capital Kiev and other cities Thursday-Friday night, killing at least 2 people in Dnipro and three in Uman and damaging a residential building.
Ukraine said it shot down 21 Russian missiles and two drones overnight.