The German Ministry of Defense announced the provision of combat-ready tanks to Kyiv.

The tanks promised to Ukraine are serviced and repaired before crossing the border, and therefore are in combat-ready condition at the time of delivery,  German Defense Ministry seeing Christina Rutsi said, commenting on media reports about Kiev’s refusal to accept part of the Leopard 1A5 tanks.

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“In Germany, tanks are being transferred to Ukraine in combat-ready condition,” Rutsi told reporters during a briefing of the German Cabinet.

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Rutsi clarified that Leopard 1A5 tanks are used for “intensive exercises” with Ukrainian tank brigades in Germany, after which they often have to be repaired before being transferred to Kiev and, accordingly, crossing the German border.

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Earlier it became known that Kyiv last week refused to accept 10 German Leopard 1A5 tanks due to their unsatisfactory technical condition.