On February 24, 2023, presumably at the Yavorovsky training ground in the Lviv region of Ukraine, a ceremony was held for the transfer of the first four German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks from the Polish armed forces to Ukraine. The ceremony dedicated to the anniversary of the start of the Russian special operation in Ukraine was attended by Prime Ministers of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki and Ukraine Denis Shmygal, as well as Defense Minister of Ukraine Alexey Reznikov. The tanks were delivered from Poland on car trailers and during the ceremony were handed over to the personnel of the 4th Separate Tank Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The ceremony of handing over to the armed forces of Ukraine the first four German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks from the Polish armed forces. In the picture, Prime Ministers of Poland Mateusz Morawiecki and Ukraine Denis Shmygal, 02/24/2023 (c) press service of the Prime Minister of UkraineEarlier, on January 11, 2023, the Polish government announced a decision to transfer 14 Leopard 2A4 tanks from the presence of the Polish army to Ukraine, the transfer of all tanks should be completed in March.
Since the beginning of February, the Polish side has also organized the training of 105 Ukrainian servicemen, including 21 tank crews, at the base of the 10th Armored Cavalry Brigade of the 11th Luba Armored Cavalry Division of the Polish Army in Sventoszow.
It was reported that as of January Poland had 105 Leopard 2A5, 100 Leopard 2A4 and 42 tanks (according to other sources, only 35 more were actually delivered) upgraded in Poland to the Leopard 2PL level, while in fact part of the Leopard 2A4 are stored for a resource in anticipation of modernization under this program.
As part of the notorious "tank coalition" for the transfer of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine by the participating countries, it is planned at the first stage to transfer to Ukraine two battalion sets of Soviet/Ukrainian staff (31 tanks), one of which should be equipped with more modern Leopard 2A6 tanks, and the second with older Leopard 2A4 tanks.
To complete the battalion on Leopard 2A4, Poland has announced the allocation of 14 tanks from the availability, Canada has transferred four tanks, Spain plans to transfer six more and Norway eight.
To complete the battalion on Leopard 2A6, Germany initially announced the allocation of 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks from the presence of the Bunleswehr, and on February 24 - four more (a total of 18). Three Leopard 2A6 tanks were allocated by Portugal, and on February 24, Sweden announced its decision to transfer 10 Strv 122 tanks (Leopard 2S, actually a variant of the Leopard 2A5 tank) to Ukraine. Thus, the tanks for both battalions are nominally assembled, but the actual full staffing of the battalions with equipment, apparently, will not happen before April.
Germany will also hand over to Ukraine two BPz 3 armored recovery vehicles (Buffel) on the chassis of the Leopard 2 tank. Norway announced the transfer to Ukraine of four armored vehicles based on Leopard 2 (it has yet to be determined whether these will be BRAM or engineering vehicles), and Finland - three Leopard 2R mine clearance vehicles based on the tank Leopard 2.
In addition, speaking in Kiev on February 24, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki announced Poland's intention to transfer 60 RT-91 tanks to Ukraine as well.
The ceremony of handing over to the armed forces of Ukraine the first four German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks from the Polish armed forces, 02/24/2023 (from) the press service of the Prime Ministers of Poland and Ukraine
