Australia: The Australian government led by Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has revealed that as part of improved aid to Ukraine, the country will send soldiers overseas and donate more Bushmaster vehicles.
In support of Operation Interflex, the Australian Defense Force (ADF) will dispatch 70 men to the United Kingdom.
Given how many “ordinary civilians” were joining the battlefield to battle Russia, Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stated the support could not be exaggerated.
“We’re talking about a reservist force in Ukraine.. everyday Ukrainian signs up to serve in their armed forces so training is fundamentally important, What this reflects is that we do see the conflict in Ukraine as one which is going to be protracted. We, therefore, need to be standing with Ukraine in the long-term,” Mr. Marles told the media.
The Defence Minister reaffirmed that no Australians would be stationed in Ukraine and that the ADF would only train personnel there. As he announced that the most recent tranche increased overall aid to Kyiv to $655 million, Marles emphasized the significance of Australia’s contribution.
The Australian-built Bushmaster-protected vehicles have received high marks from Ukrainian soldiers, and the Albanian government has committed an extra 30, bringing the total to 90.
Australia has sent 40 Bushmaster combat vehicles, of which three are thought to have been damaged in action. These vehicles allow 10 soldiers to move quickly and safely throughout battlefields while being protected.
Bushmasters have a particularly armored V-shaped hull that deflects blasts from landmines and other explosives away from passengers while shielding soldiers from small-arms fire with a one-piece shell and ballistics-protected window.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, expressed his gratitude to Australia for its continued assistance. “These armored vehicles have shown excellent results on the battlefield and we requested more of them,” Mr. Kuleba tweeted.