Since the 1990s, when they were last used in war, the German-made battle tanks have been sitting in storage. After early doubts about whether they could be used in combat again, they had to be fixed up and put through tests to make sure they were ready.
Six Leopard 2A4 tanks that Spain promised to send to war-torn Ukraine will leave in the second half of April, Defense Minister Margarita Robles said on Wednesday on state TVE.
The move by the Spanish government pushes back the expected date of shipment of the tanks that were supposed to help Ukraine fight off the constant attacks by Russian troops in the country’s east.
Since the 1990s, when they were last used in war, the German-made battle tanks have been sitting in storage. After first being unsure if they could be used in fighting again because of how much time had passed, they had to be fixed up and put through tests to make sure they were ready.
Spain said in March that it planned to send the Leopard tanks after the Easter break on April 9.
The friend of Kyiv promised to send a total of 10 tanks to Ukraine, and Robles said that the military had begun fixing the other four.
At a military base in the city of Zaragoza in the northeast, Spain has also taught 40 tank crew members and 15 mechanics.
Countries that are part of NATO, like Germany, Poland, and Portugal, have promised to send 48 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine before its planned counterattack.
