The video, which the Ukrainian military shared on social networks, recorded the first confirmed hit of Gepard anti-aircraft missiles, received by Kyiv from Germany.

Russian missile shot down by German Gepard systemsPhoto: video shooting

Footage shared on social media a day ago showed the downing of a Russian cruise missile as the Russian armed forces launched a major new attack on Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure on Monday.

Authorities in Kyiv announced late Monday that they had shot down almost all of the missiles fired by Russian forces, and a new recording likely recorded such an interception by Ukrainian air defense.

The government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced at the end of April that it would send Gepard armored vehicles to Ukraine, which are anti-aircraft systems equipped with two 35mm cannons.

Cheetah armored vehicles have search and tracking radars and do not require installation for firing on the move with and without stops. Despite the relatively heavy weight, the systems can move at a speed of 60 km/h and have an autonomy of more than 500 km.

Another video released by Ukrainian soldiers in late August confirmed that they had arrived at the front after a months-long dispute between Kyiv and Berlin over the German government’s reluctance to supply heavy weapons to Ukraine.

Since last December, Ukraine has accused the Scholz government of preventing it from buying NATO military equipment, despite the threat of a Russian invasion.

Germany promised Ukraine more Gepard armored vehicles

“Don’t provoke Russia – this strategy doesn’t work and won’t work,” Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov warned at the time, recalling that Moscow invaded Georgia after Germany and France blocked the country’s entry into NATO in 2008.

But earlier this month, Germany announced it intended to continue arms shipments that began after the start of the war in Ukraine on February 24, promising Kyiv forces seven more Gepard armored vehicles that had been earmarked for disposal.

They will be added next spring to the 30 German anti-aircraft tanks already being used by Ukrainian forces against invading Russian forces.

The seven armored vehicles currently being repaired by arms manufacturer Krauss-Maffei Wegmann are to help Ukraine protect its cities and infrastructure from Russian attacks.

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