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You rarely see pictures like this: Two tanks collided with Ukrainian soldiers during an exercise in Swietoszow. How it came about.
- Spectacular collision during exercise: Two Leopard 2A4 tanks collide in Poland
- Details of the incident are still unclear, but Polish armed forces confirm the involvement of Ukrainian soldiers
- The images, especially of a tank, then spread rapidly on the internet
The pictures look spectacular, also a little disturbing. Two 55-ton tanks of the type Leopard 2A4 collided during an exercise in Poland. One has practically been beheaded: the tower, which weighs several tons, has been lifted out of the slewing ring of its hull. The pictures have been circulating online for days, for example on Twitter, where they are widely discussed. They are exploited in Russian channels as evidence of the supposed military incompetence.
The destroyed tank is in the workshop and should be repaired. The logistics involved are crucial to the war. It is no coincidence that Germany, Ukraine and Poland agreed on Friday to set up a joint repair center for Leopard 2 tanks on the Polish-Ukrainian border. You might also be interested in: Ukraine war: Leo 1 tank is coming – what the oldie can do
It is still unclear how exactly the accident occurred during training and whether people were injured. The Polish armed forces confirmed the incident to ZDF and also who had trained there: Ukrainian soldiers.
The Accident happened at the military training area in Swietoszow in the western part of Poland. Judging by the pictures, one tank passed a second vehicle too close and too fast, at least the gun barrels seem to have touched. also read: Leopard: Why the tank costs several million euros
Tanks for the Ukraine: There isn’t enough time for thorough training
The soldiers are trained in how to use the western tank within a few weeks, in an intensive course that usually lasts 30 days. Recently, several partner states of Ukraine delivered Leopard 2 tanks, for example Canada and Portugal. Denmark and the Netherlands, meanwhile, have new commitments made.
There is not enough time for thorough, ideal training. Many experts expect in these weeks with the beginning of a Ukrainian counteroffensive, which cannot be imagined without the widespread use of main battle tanks. Western arms deliveries can really be a game changer, especially as reports are mounting that Russia is increasingly dependent on using ancient tanks in the Ukraine war. Read about it: Putin causes laughter on the internet with bulky garbage tanks
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Ukraine war – background and explanations for the conflict
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