Finland will send three Leopard 2 main battle tanks and provide training in their use as part of international cooperation to provide Ukraine with heavy weapons to counter the Russian invasion, the Finnish Ministry of Defense announced today, on the eve of the first anniversary of the Russian invasion. Ukraine.

“We will send more defense equipment and participate in the Leopard program together with our partners,” Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola said in a statement, which also said the assistance would also include “training related to their use and maintenance.”

The vehicles being sent are a modified version of the Leopard 2 designed to clear minefields and neutralize other explosive devices, Savola explained at a press conference he gave.

Of the 200 Leopard 2 tanks in Finland, only six have been modified in this way.

“The share of Finland in the tanks that will be transferred to Ukraine cannot be very significant. We have a large eastern border that needs to be defended, we are not yet a NATO member, and we cannot jeopardize our own security, ”said Savola, adding that he would not disclose the schedule for the delivery of tanks for security reasons.

Finland’s announcement follows Spain’s commitment yesterday to send six tanks.

On Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged allies to deliver promised tanks to Kyiv after he hesitated for a long time to approve sending tanks to Ukraine.

Germany finally announced the deployment of 14 Leopards in January.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP, Reuters.