Monitoring Desk
ISLAMABAD/MUNSTER: A Ukrainian soldier has compared Germany’s Leopard 2 tanks to Mercedes-Benz as he got their training before their arrival on the Ukrainian battlefield.
The Ukrainian soldier hoped German tanks would bring a breakthrough in the war.
The soldier, whose identity was not disclosed by Reuters, was among dozens of Ukrainian forces training in Germany to hone their skills on Leopard 2 simulators and the tanks at the Munster military training ground.
Last month, Germany agreed to supply Leopard 2 tanks, regarded as one of the best in the West’s arsenal, to Ukraine. The heavy weaponry Kyiv sees it crucial to defeating Russia.
“It is crucial we use this modern weapon wisely. It would bring a breakthrough, and we would win in the end,” said the soldier.
Leopard tanks like Mercedes
Asked about the difference between soviet systems and the western, he said: “You can imagine it like the difference between a Mercedes and a Zhiguli, a Soviet vehicle sold under the brand name Lada in the West.
The version of German tanks produced by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann weighs more than 60 tonnes, has a 120 mm smoothbore gun, and hits targets up to 4 kilometres.
Ukraine expects to receive 120 to 140 tanks in a “first wave” of deliveries from a coalition of 12 nations, including German Leopard 2.
