Training for Ukrainian soldiers on the Leopard 2 main battle tank was completed in Germany, as reported by the German daily Die Zeit. After weeks of intensive instruction, Ukrainian crews are described as ready for deployment to operate the Leopard 2 in combat scenarios, according to the same source. The program included simulator work, in-field combat drills, and live-fire exercises at the end of the course. Earlier reports indicated that Ukrainian personnel also trained with Marder infantry fighting vehicles at a training ground in Münster, Lower Saxony. In addition to Leopard 2 tanks, the crews gained familiarity with the Marder and its accompanying systems.
The publication notes that the Federal Republic of Germany is slated to supply 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine. With the delivery, German tanks equipped with Ukrainian crews could appear on the front lines earlier in the month. Spiegel magazine had already suggested that the Leopard training is being conducted on a fast-track basis, with programs lasting six to eight weeks, a duration far shorter than the typical years of preparation usually required for such hardware. This contrast underscores the urgency perceived by those following the training unfoldings.
Meanwhile, Reuters reported that the Spanish Ministry of Defense confirmed several Ukrainian soldiers completed four weeks of Leopard 2 operator training at the Zaragoza military base. In total, 40 tankers and 15 technicians from the Ukrainian Armed Forces received instruction in operating the tanks during this period. Spain’s defense authorities stated that the Ukrainian force would return with solid knowledge of the Leopard 2’s capabilities. Madrid previously announced plans to dispatch six Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine after necessary repairs, with a trajectory to raise this figure to ten units in the future.
On February 14, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that roughly 1,200 Ukrainian soldiers were receiving training in Germany to handle a range of NATO combat systems. He highlighted that this training included the Leopard tanks and other systems such as multi-launch rocket systems and Patriot missile defense batteries. The defense minister warned that an untrained weapon serves little purpose, emphasizing the importance of practical instruction for the Ukrainian army to maximize the potential of the equipment being provided.
Later, Pistorius noted that by the end of the year 2023, around 3,000 Ukrainian soldiers would have been trained in Germany to operate German-made combat systems. Military experts quoted by TASS have suggested that retraining to operate Leopard 2 and Challenger 2 tanks might require years and that foreign personnel could play a role within the war zone to ensure effective utilization of these systems. The Leopard 2, a German main battle tank, emerged from development work that began in the 1960s, with the first prototype appearing in 1972. Production of Leopard 2 variants continued through 2015, with more than 3,200 units built. By 2017, Leopards of various configurations remained in service with several European and North American national armies, including Germany, Austria, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, and others, reflecting its long-standing role in modern armored warfare.