Departure of the first Canadian Leopard 2 to Ukraine

Departure of the first Canadian Leopard 2 to Ukraine

Canada shipped the first of its promised Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine on Saturday, Defense Minister Anita Anand said.

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A Canadian Air Force plane “takes off from Halifax with the first Leopard 2 main battle tank that we are donating to Ukraine,” the minister said in a tweet.

“Canada stands in solidarity with Ukraine and we will continue to provide Ukrainian forces with the equipment they need for victory,” the minister added.

“The main battle tanks are on their way to help Ukraine. The first Canadian Leopard 2 is gone. Canada’s support for Ukraine is unwavering,” the minister announced in another tweet, accompanied by a video showing the tank being loaded and the plane carrying it taking off.

Canada announced its decision to supply four German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in late January, a day after similar announcements by several Western countries.