🧵- The Bundeswehr has provided interesting insights into the care provided by Bundeswehr personnel to Ukrainian soldiers who are being trained in Germany. An overview for you ⬇️
“We offer […] an all-round carefree package. […] 24 hours a day, seven days a week.”
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The Ukrainian soldiers sleep in modern tents that can accommodate up to 8 men. In summer, air conditioning is installed, in autumn the additional sun protection will be removed, and a heating system installed.
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The individual occupancy of the tents is regulated by the soldiers by themselves.
Veterans who stay in the camp for a longer period of time and the Ukrainian military police take up quarters in fortified barracks-like facilities.
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Ukrainian soldiers have a wide choice of food options. Various hot meals and packed lunches for the day are available every day – including vegetarian meals, of course.
There are rest periods between the individual training units, which can be used for eating and relaxing.
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Before starting their training, the Ukrainians are not only given German uniforms (without sovereignty insignia), but also bed linen and towels.
During training, there is a laundry service for the Ukrainian soldiers.
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In order to communicate properly with each other, interpreters are always present during the training. Communication is either in Russian or English.
For protection, only first names are mentioned and the exchange of, for example, mobile phone numbers does not take place.
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There is a so-called “care tent” in the camp. There is not only a kind of shop (“refuelling stop”) where the Ukrainians can buy cigarettes, drinks or drug store items, but they can also do sports.
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Of course, there are also other ways to be active there. The Ukrainian soldiers can play darts or table soccer. There are also card games and board games.
“When the weather allows, we have grill evenings or watch football together”.
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There is also a transport service for the Ukrainian soldiers. If they have to go to the doctor or need something that is not available in their own shop, they are driven to supermarkets and shops. Trips to Berlin are also on the programme.
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A particularly beautiful part of the transport service is the family reunion. If the Ukrainian soldiers have family in Germany, they are driven to their relatives.
Meetings are also possible at the barracks (at the entrance gate).
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Wherever Ukrainians are being trained, another 65 soldiers reinforce the civilian guard between 05:30 AM and 10:30 PM.
All this is possible because of the Logistics Battalion 461, the Special Engineer Regiment 164 and the Joint Support Service. Many thanks!
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The original and much more detailed report in German can be found here ⬇️.
Yesterday I posted PART 1 of the Germany-Ukraine support thread. As promised, PART 2 follows now. Brief reminder: Only delivered weapon systems and other assistance, of which I have already seen photos/videos!
26) WiSENT 1 MC (19 delivered / 23 pledged)
The WiSENT 1 MC is a mine-clearing tank based on a Leopard 1 chassis, which is manufactured by FFG in Germany. The minesweeper is manufactured by Pearson Engineering and offers first-class breaching capabilities.
Unfortunately, not much is known about these delivered vehicles and where they are used. However, these delivered vehicles are actually very important. We have already seen one or two photos of destroyed vehicles, but here is one in service with the 3rd Assault Brigade (vehicle on the far right).
The border protection vehicles are actually only called that because they are used by various units of the Ukrainian border guards.
They perform important logistical work there, which should certainly be noticeable due to the large number of vehicles supplied. Iveco ACL 90, Iveco VM90 Torpedo 4x4 and Renault TRM 2000 4x4 are supplied.
I would like to show you the entire military support provided by Germany, of which I have already seen footage (Ringtausch excluded). I'll make a long thread today and post another one again tomorrow to finnish the rest 🙂. Let's go!
1) IRIS-T SLM (3 delivered / 9 pledged)
IRIS-T SLM is one of the best air defence systems in use in Ukraine. At least two of the three IRIS-T SLM systems supplied by Germany are located in Kyiv, where they provide invaluable protection with an almost 100% success rate.
Germany will supply Ukraine with a further nine systems by the end of 2025.
2) MIM-104 Patriot (2 delivered)
Germany has supplied Ukraine with two of the three MIM-104 Patriot air defence systems, which are considered to be the best air defence systems in Ukraine.
The first Patriot system supplied by Germany was responsible for the downing of two fighter jets and three helicopters in Bryansk, Russia, in May 2023.
According to media reports and official statements, the second system is located somewhere in the south of Ukraine.
3) Gepard SPAAGs (52 delivered / 15 pledged)
The Gepard SPAAG supplied by Germany is probably considered by most to be the most effective weapon system against drones deployed by Russia — at least until we got precise feedback about the also German-delivered Skynex air defence systems.
Meanwhile, Germany has exhausted all possibilities regarding deliveries to Ukraine. The SPAAGs have already been bought back from Qatar and completely delivered to Ukraine.
The on the German side last 15 Gepard SPAAGs (Cheetah SPAAGs to be precise) have been bought back from Jordan and will be delivered to Ukraine this year.
🧵 – In this thread I would like to shortly introduce German arms manufacturers and other German companies that supply weapons, vehicles and other assistance to #Ukraine on behalf of the German government.
1) Aaronia
Aaronia is a company specialising in monitoring, detection and surveillance technology.
Although the company has not officially made any deliveries to Ukraine on behalf of the German government, Germany has supplied Ukraine with over 300 drone detection sensors, jammers, anti-drone devices etc. and Ukrainian soldiers have been trained in drone detection by the company on behalf of the German government since 2022.
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2) C. G. Haenel
C. G. Haenel is a manufacturer of firearms. The company supplies two different firearms to Ukraine on behalf of the German government.
Firstly, a total of 5,000 MK 556 fully automatic assault rifles, of which 305 have already been delivered to Ukraine. A large proportion of the MK 556s will probably be deployed with Ukrainian special forces and the International Legion, as the German KSK is training Ukrainian special forces with precisely these weapons.
On the other hand, 450 HLR 338 high-end precision rifles will also be delivered to Ukraine. The delivery of 15 of these long-range sniper rifles has already been completed, while 435 more will be delivered in the future.
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3) Diehl Defence
Diehl Defence is one of the most important German suppliers of weapons systems to Ukraine.
As the manufacturer of the IRIS-T SLM air defence system and the related IRIS-T and IRIS-T SL missiles, the company is heavily involved in the air defence of Ukraine.
The German government has already had three of these air defence systems delivered to Ukraine. As things currently stand, a further nine will be delivered by the end of 2025, guaranteeing Ukraine a long-term supply of air defence systems and missiles.
Diehl (in cooperation with LEONARDO) is also the manufacturer of the VULCANO artillery ammunition. Ukraine has received 255 shells of this artillery ammunition in various versions. This is the most modern artillery ammunition in service in Ukraine.
Diehl is also most likely supplying the 40 mm ammunition for automatic grenade launchers financed by Germany for Ukraine. Almost 240,000 rounds have already been delivered, and a further 190,000 rounds will be delivered in the future.
In an interview with the SZ, a Ukrainian officer (coordinates technical issues of air defence around Kyiv) revealed the problems that can result from the permanent use of the Gepard SPAAGs supplied by Germany.
Sooner or later, transistors of central power supplies burn out. As a result, the automatic target tracking and guidance no longer works properly and twice as much ammunition is used for one shot (which is still not a lot).
According to the Ukrainian officer, the assumption is that it is an issue easy to fix if all the electrical diagrams were available – which they do not have.
Currently, they are buying spare parts in the West and having the Gepard SPAAGs repaired – no permanent solution.
According to BILD, Germany will not deliver Taurus KEPD-350s to Ukraine any time soon. This has been confirmed unofficially from government circles in Ukraine as well as from Germany. However, there has not yet been a formal denial to Ukraine.
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Chancellor Olaf Scholz alone is against the delivery. According to the BILD, Germany will do everything to strengthen Ukraine's air defence. A possible delivery of additional Patriot missiles was mentioned specifically.
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Last week, Scholz was asked in an internal meeting of the Foreign Affairs Committee why France and GB supply cruise missiles, but Germany continues not to.
Scholz responded that both “can do something we are not allowed to do, so the question doesn't arise.”
🧵 The head of the Swiss Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport has launched a full external investigation to clarify the circumstances of the Leopard 1 purchase of RUAG in 2016 and the signing of the contract with Rheinmetall (delivery to Ukraine). 1/7
In 2016, RUAG bought 96 Leopard 1s from Italy and stored them in also Italy. According to RUAG, they were purchased as “trading goods” and as “spare parts donors”. At the beginning of 2023, RUAG was asked by Rheinmetall if it could buy the Leopard 1s. 2/7
Rheinmetall disclosed at the time that the Leopard 1s were to be delivered to Ukraine after being overhauled in Germany. On 13th of February 2023 a contract was signed between RUAG and Rheinmetall, with the condition that the Swiss authorities had to give their approval. 3/7