German arms pivotal in Ukraine's frontline defence
Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that over 100 Ukrainian brigades are active on the front, and each requires rearming. In this context, weapons from Germany, which account for about 16 percent of all the weapons Ukraine has received from its allies, are highly significant.
"We have repeatedly heard signals about the age of our soldiers, mobilisation age, and so on. (...) You know, I will not give a very exact number, as it is dangerous, but we have over 100 brigades on the battlefield, and each of these brigades requires daily equipment replenishment," said the Interfax-Ukraine agency, quoting the Ukrainian president.
An Important Ally of Ukraine
Before the meeting with the German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, who was visiting Kyiv, Zelensky also emphasised that a significant number of brigades "always have something to repair," which causes equipment shortages.
Boris Pistorius confirmed, in turn, that the first of the RCH 155 howitzers delivered to Ukraine "is truly a masterpiece of engineering." The Ukrainian army is set to receive 54 of these howitzers, which, according to the manufacturer, are distinguished by their mobility, precision, and high level of safety for the crew. The RCH 155's range is about 40 kilometres with standard ammunition and even 71 kilometres when using rocket-assisted projectiles.
Valuable German Weaponry in Ukraine
Boris Pistorius added that the German defence department has already prepared everything for the transfer of a new aid package to Ukraine, but negotiations are still ongoing within the government. Zelensky stated in turn that "Germany has helped Ukraine, their contribution amounts to about 16 percent of all the aid that Ukraine has received."
The Ukrainian president mentioned the German air defence systems that help protect the Ukrainian skies from Russian attacks. He listed Patriot and IRIS-T systems, which are considered among the most effective in combating Russia's most dangerous missiles. The many months of war have shown, however, that Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns are also significant, proving to be the best weapon against Russian drones.
"They are very important and provide strong protection to our critical infrastructure, including the power grid," said Zelensky, evaluating the German Gepards.
Germany is also one of the largest donors of tanks, providing and assisting other NATO countries in delivering Ukraine with various versions of Leopards, including Leopard 2A4 tanks, which have proven effective in the realities of war with Russia. German artillery, including PzH 2000 howitzers, is also highly esteemed by Ukrainian soldiers. They are equipped with a 155 mm gun 52 calibres in length and can fire up to 10 rounds per minute, also allowing for a five-shot salvo in MRSI mode.
