Ukraine's Defence Minister has taken the country's first British-made battle tank “for a spin” as western armoured vehicles begin to arrive.
Oleksii Reznikov said on Tuesday the UK-made Challenger 2 tanks had reached Ukraine and would “soon begin their combat missions.”
Footage showed him aboard a tank in a red baseball cap as he thanked Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for military aid which he described as “marvellous”.
A British tank and lighter German and US-made vehicles were put on display with their corresponding flags in a photo released by Ukraine's armed forces.
Germany meanwhile said its first shipment of Leopard 2 tanks had arrived just two months after it announced it would send its main battle tanks.
The announcement by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday came as Ukrainian soldiers completed their training in the UK on the Challenger 2 tank.
Advanced western tanks ― long an item on Ukraine's military equipment wish list ― were promised to Kyiv earlier this year and have arrived in time for an expected spring offensive.
The tanks promised to Ukraine include:
- The 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks offered by Germany, as well as up to 100 older Leopard 1 models to be delivered during 2023 and 2024;
- German-made Leopard 2s from other Nato countries including Sweden, Poland and Portugal;
- A company of 14 British Challenger 2 tanks, with training already completed;
- A battalion of 31 American M1 Abrams tanks, with logistics expected to take months;
- Light AMX-10 RC tanks provided by the French Army.
As Ukraine gains conventional firepower, the Kremlin vowed to follow through on a plan announced by President Vladimir Putin to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus, an initiative which has drawn widespread criticism.
Germany’s defence ministry said that 18 of what Mr Scholz called the “very modern” Leopard 2 battle tanks had been handed over to Kyiv.
“Our tanks have made it into the hands of our Ukrainian friends as promised and on time,” German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.
“I'm sure they can make a difference on the ground.”
The German army Twitter account shared images of Ukrainian soldiers training with the Leopard tanks and described the handover as a “special form of solidarity”. “Instructors have used every second to train [Ukrainian] soldiers on the Kampfpanzer Leopard 2,” the army added.
Ukrainian soldiers were trained on the A26, the most advanced of the Leopard models, on military bases in Muenster and Bergen in northern Germany. They have also trained at Spanish bases.
As well as the Challenger 2 and the Leopard 2 tanks, Mr Reznikov said that he had inspected the “new addition” to the country’s forces that included about 40 of Germany's Marder infantry fighting vehicles, plus Cougar armoured lorries and Stryker armoured personnel carriers from the US.
The British Ministry of Defence described the Challenger 2 vehicles as a “step change in capability” for Ukraine's armed forces. The machines would offer them some of the most modern and sophisticated gunnery systems in the world, it said.
Alongside the German vehicles, three Leopard tanks donated by Portugal also reached Ukraine, a security source told Reuters.
Under German law, any country wanting to send the tanks to another country must first get approval from Berlin.
“A year ago, no one would have thought that our partners' support would be so strong,” Mr Reznikov said on Facebook.
Mr Scholz's government initially said it was aiming to assemble, along with allies, two battalions of tanks for Kyiv ― about 60 in total.
But they have since struggled to get the numbers together.
The German and Dutch cabinets held a special joint session in the port city of Rotterdam on Monday at the huge, mirrored depot of the Boijmans Van Beuningen art museum.
Mr Scholz and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said they had discussed military support for Ukraine and their “unique” military co-operation, which involves Germany and the Netherlands merging some armed units.
“The European message remains completely clear, even after more than a year: we support Ukraine in all areas and we will do so as long as it is necessary,” Mr Rutte said.
Berlin finally gave the green light at the end of January for Leopards ― among the world's most advanced tanks and used by militaries across Europe ― to be sent to Ukraine.
The US said at the same time it would send advanced American Abrams tanks.
FROM%20THE%20ASHES
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Founders: Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Turki Bin Zarah and Abdulmohsen Albabtain.
Based: Riyadh
Offices: UAE, Vietnam and Germany
Founded: September, 2020
Number of employees: 70
Sector: FinTech, online payment solutions
Funding to date: $116m in two funding rounds
Investors: Checkout.com, Impact46, Vision Ventures, Wealth Well, Seedra, Khwarizmi, Hala Ventures, Nama Ventures and family offices
The specs
Engine: 3.8-litre V6
Power: 295hp at 6,000rpm
Torque: 355Nm at 5,200rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
Price: Dh179,999-plus
On sale: now
Dubai Bling season three
Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed
Rating: 1/5
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Abu Dhabi race card
5pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,600m
5.30pm: Maiden (PA) | Dh80,000 | 1,400m
6pm: Liwa Oasis (PA) Group 2 | Dh300,000 | 1,400m
6.30pm: Arabian Triple Crown Round-2 (PA) Group 3 | Dh300,000 | 2,200m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap | Dh70,000 | 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (TB) | Dh80,000 | 2,200m
The biog:
Favourite book: The Leader Who Had No Title by Robin Sharma
Pet Peeve: Racism
Proudest moment: Graduating from Sorbonne
What puts her off: Dishonesty in all its forms
Happiest period in her life: The beginning of her 30s
Favourite movie: "I have two. The Pursuit of Happiness and Homeless to Harvard"
Role model: Everyone. A child can be my role model
Slogan: The queen of peace, love and positive energy
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
if you go
The flights
Etihad, Emirates and Singapore Airlines fly direct from the UAE to Singapore from Dh2,265 return including taxes. The flight takes about 7 hours.
The hotel
Rooms at the M Social Singapore cost from SG $179 (Dh488) per night including taxes.
The tour
Makan Makan Walking group tours costs from SG $90 (Dh245) per person for about three hours. Tailor-made tours can be arranged. For details go to www.woknstroll.com.sg
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
Company%20profile
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THE TWIN BIO
Their favourite city: Dubai
Their favourite food: Khaleeji
Their favourite past-time : walking on the beach
Their favorite quote: ‘we rise by lifting others’ by Robert Ingersoll
Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Results
4pm: Al Bastakiya – Listed (TB) $150,000 (Dirt) 1,900m; Winner: Panadol, Mickael Barzalona (jockey), Salem bin Ghadayer (trainer)
4.35pm: Dubai City Of Gold – Group 2 (TB) $228,000 (Turf) 2,410m; Winner: Walton Street, William Buick, Charlie Appleby
5.10pm: Mahab Al Shimaal – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: Canvassed, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Midnight Sands, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson
6.20pm: Jebel Hatta – Group 1 (TB) $260,000 (T) 1,800m; Winner: Lord Glitters, Daniel Tudhope, David O’Meara
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 – Group 1 (TB) $390,000 (D) 2,000m; Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass
7.30pm: Nad Al Sheba – Group 3 (TB) $228,000 (T) 1,200m; Winner: Final Song, Frankie Dettori, Saeed bin Suroor
Bournemouth 0
Manchester United 2
Smalling (28'), Lukaku (70')
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
