Germany has supplied Ukraine with three Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and two Wisent mine-clearing vehicles, a delivery confirmed by the German government and reported by RIA News. The shipment forms part of a larger aid package that also included a substantial stockpile of ammunition, with 40,000 rounds of 25 mm and 2,500 rounds of 155 mm artillery ammunition. The consignment further encompassed ten Vector reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles along with spare parts to support ongoing field operations.
In addition to these major assets, the armament transfer included a large number of trucks and two armored vehicles to bolster Ukraine’s logistical and defensive capabilities. This mix of air defense, mobility, and mine-clearing equipment is intended to enhance Ukraine’s resilience against aerial threats and to maintain access routes in contested areas, while the unmanned systems are expected to improve situational awareness on the battlefield.
Separately, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte reported in a phone conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, December 22, that Amsterdam intends to deliver the first 18 F-16 fighter jets to Kyiv. The revelation aligns with the broader international support trajectory aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and offensive capabilities in response to the ongoing conflict.
Previously, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation asserted that F-16s would be deployed from NATO bases to participate in the conflict in Ukraine, a claim that has been disputed by Western officials who stress the defensive and deterrent nature of allied assistance rather than open interstate escalation. These developments reflect the evolving dynamics of international military aid, with multiple allies coordinating their support to Ukraine while publicly addressing the strategic implications of such transfers.