Image source: topwar.ru
The Swiss authorities have banned the re-export of Gepard ZSU shells and Piranha III armored vehicles produced on their territory to Ukraine.
According to the Swiss broadcasting company SRF, the leadership of Germany addressed the authorities of the country with a request to send 12.4 thousand shells to Kiev for Gepard anti-aircraft installations. In turn, the Danish authorities requested permission to send 22 Piranha III wheeled armored personnel carriers. According to the publication, both requests were rejected.
The fact is that according to the current legislation, the supply of weapons produced by enterprises of the Swiss military-industrial complex cannot be carried out to countries in a state of military conflict. And Russia and Ukraine are just participants in the armed confrontation. Moreover, the Government of the country exercises control over the transfer of military equipment, ammunition, components and parts to them produced in Switzerland, even after their transfer to other states.
At the same time, earlier the federal government of the Swiss Confederation issued a permit to Germany for the supply of 42 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. This decision is due to the fact that this military equipment, previously in service with Switzerland, was decommissioned in 2010-2011 and returned to Germany. The German authorities plan to transfer tanks to the Czech Republic, and in return Prague will supply Kiev with Soviet tanks, which are in service with the Czech army. As a result of such an exchange, the legal restrictions in force in Switzerland will not be violated.
But Poland, which also requested permission to supply Leopard 2 to Kiev, was refused by the Swiss Ministry of Defense. The military department stated that the tanks have not been officially decommissioned, therefore, parliamentary approval is required for their transfer to third countries. But even if it does, the process of transferring military equipment to Warsaw may take several years.
At the same time, Switzerland refused to receive the NLAW anti-tank complexes already paid for, produced by the Swedish arms company Saab, in favor of the UK. Earlier, London requested the supply of these ATGMs to replenish its arsenal after sending large shipments of NLAW to Ukraine. According to SRF, such a decision by the Federal Ministry of Defense "raises many questions." After all, in fact, ATGMs are already "contract" Swiss military material, which will now be transferred to the UK.
