Breaking news. Jan 9, 2023
Britain is considering supplying Ukraine with tanks for the first time to help the country fight Russian forces, The Telegraph understands.
Discussions have been taking place about delivering the British Army’s Challenger 2 main battle tank to Ukraine, in a move that would signal a step-up in Western support from Ukraine.
The move to supply the British tanks to Ukraine would make the UK the first Western country to send main battle tanks to Ukraine.
The UK has not made a final decision on the matter.
It comes after French President Emmanuel Macron pledged last week to send light tanks to Kyiv.
Italy’s Ukraine arms supply decision delayed until February
Italy will not take a decision on the supply of new arms to Ukraine until February due to political tensions, cost considerations and military shortages, newspaper la Repubblica reported on Monday.
Two weeks ago Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Rome was considering supplying air defences after a phone call with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in which she reaffirmed her government’s “full support” for Ukraine.
Shortly afterwards, Defence Minister Guido Crosetto struck a cautious tone on whether Italy would be able to supply Ukraine with air defence systems.
Ukraine in pictures:
Pope says wars like that in Ukraine are ‘crime against God and humanity’
Pope Francis has said wars such as that in Ukraine where civilian areas are subjected to what he called indiscriminate destruction are “a crime against God and humanity”.
Delivering his annual “state of the world” address, Francis spoke of “the war in Ukraine, with its wake of death and destruction, with its attacks on civil infrastructures that cause lives to be lost not only from gunfire and acts of violence, but also from hunger and freezing cold”.
He quoted from a Vatican constitution, saying “every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and humanity which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation”.
Referring to the Cuban missile crisis in 1962, he said: “Sadly, today too, the nuclear threat is raised, and the world once more feels fear and anguish.”
He repeated his appeal for a total ban on nuclear weapons, saying even their possession for reasons of deterrence is “immoral”
‘Every day brings evidence of genocide’
russian occupiers shelled a local market in #Kharkiv region. Child among seven victims. Every day brings evidence of #genocide in the middle of Europe.
Woman killed by Russian missile strike in eastern Ukraine, says governor
A 60-year-old woman was killed and several other people were wounded in a Russian missile strike on a market in the village of Shevchenkove in eastern Ukraine on Monday, the regional governor said.
Footage posed by public broadcaster Suspilne on the Telegram messaging app showed rescue workers sifting through large piles of rubble, burning wreckage and a large crater in what it said was Shevchenkove, southeast of the regional capital Kharkiv.
“According to confirmed information, unfortunately a 60-year-old woman died,” Oleh Synehubov, governor of the Kharkiv region, wrote on Telegram.
“All other victims were hospitalised. Doctors are helping them. Rescuer workers continue to clear the debris.”
Ukrainian refugee living in the UK encourages people to “be more Zelensky”
A Ukrainian refugee and her British host family will mark the first anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war by running a half marathon in a bid to raise money for displaced children caught up in the conflict and spread the message to “be more Zelensky”.
Anna Tysovska, 32 and from Kyiv, and Jane Finlay, 57 and from Cornwall, will run the Hampton Court Half Marathon in south-west London on Sunday February 26 as they try to raise funds to buy generators for children in Ukraine.
Jane Finlay wearing her “be more Zelensky” t shirt. CREDIT: Jane Finlay/ PA wire/Jane Finlay/PA wire
The run will take place a few days after the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 20 2022 and is one of many initiatives Ms Tysovska has launched to help her country since fleeing the war.
“Italy will not take a decision on the supply of new arms to Ukraine until February due to political tensions, cost considerations and military shortages, newspaper la Repubblica reported on Monday.”
Italy blowing hot and cold, like Germany. It is to be hoped that the UK will not follow that despicable example. The rumour yesterday was about Challenger 1; an obsolete but still good tank, being sent. Now the discussions are about Challenger 2, which is a big upgrade. It’s from the late 1990’s, but still pretty good.
The British army only has 227 of these currently operational, so I doubt if more than 40 or 50 will be sent. We’ll see.
Yeah, that is indeed one of the problems the Challenger has, there aren’t so many of them and new ones cannot be produced.
However, of all the countries in Europe I think the UK is the least in need of having tanks: good luck crossing the North Sea with landing ships.
I mean, I don’t think British acquired them with the idea of war on own soil in mind. They were mainly acquired for battle against Russia on European soil. If Ukraine uses them, they are doing exactly what they were bought for.
So I mean, theoretically they could give every single one of them without critically endangering Britain.
I do think one of the issues with the Challenger is a non-standard main gun. There are plans to replace it with the Leopard 2/Abram 120mm main gun, but it did not seem to have happened yet.
That is a problem as I think (correct me if I am wrong) the UK needs to provide an awful lot of shells and I don’t think they have as many shells laying around as the U.S.
The Challenger is a very exotic weapon and is only used by two nations in the world. I do think it is an excellent tank, but logistically it can be a bit more challenging then the Leopard or Abram which neighbour Poland both operates.
I hope I am wrong with my assumption that the Challenger doesn’t eat NATO shells, that would make things a lot easier.
I fully agree with every point you said. The Challenger 1 and 2 are good tanks, but impractical, seeing the caliber of the main guns and the issues of supplying an appropriate amount of ammo and the ensuing increased logistic complexity.
Poland considers the option to deliver their Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_january_2023_global_security_army_industry/poland_considers_the_option_to_deliver_leopard_2_tanks_to_ukraine.amp.html
Liked Sir Scradge’s and Sir Stanley’s comments.
Given the reasons me and Scradje gave there are some limitations in terms of quantity and availability of shells with the Challenger 2, even do it is an excellent performer.
However, if the UK would only send 2 of them, Germany and the U.S. have no valid excuse anymore not to send MBT’s.
No escalation will happen, so the pressure on Germany and Biden will increase as their lame excuses won’t be valid anymore.
So Ukraine will win both militarily and diplomatically if this beast will be sent East.
Well, your comment was what I wanted to say, and you said it quite well, so I’ll just forgo on posting my comment. 😁