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More than 100 members of the Ukrainian military are in Poland for intense training on the German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks. Ukrainian leaders say the tanks, promised by Western allies three weeks ago, will help save lives and play a key role in the fight against Russian forces.
Myroslava Gongadze has more from an Army base camp in Swietoszow, Poland.
Content TypePackage
LanguageEnglish
Transcript/ScriptUkraine Leopard Training
HEADLINE: Ukrainian Military in Poland for Intense Training on Leopard 2 Tan
PUBLISHED: 02/15/2023 at 2:50PM
BYLINE: Myroslava Gongadze
CONTRIBUTOR:
DATELINE: Swietoszow, Poland
VIDEOGRAPHER: Daniil Batu
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: sv, MAS, David Jones
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, AP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X_ RADIO __
TRT: 2:47
VID APPROVED BY:MAS
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:
((INTRO))
[[More than 100 members of the Ukrainian military are in Poland for intense training on the German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks. Ukrainian leaders say the tanks, promised by Western allies three weeks ago, will help save lives and play a key role in the fight against Russian forces. Myroslava Gongadze has more from an Army base camp in Swietoszow, Poland.]]
((NARRATION))
At this army base in Swietoszow, Poland, more than 100 Ukrainian troops are undergoing intense training. They were pulled from the frontlines in Ukraine to learn how to operate German-made Leopard 2 tanks provided by Western allies.
They are working side by side with training instructors from Canada, Norway and Poland.
The Ukrainian troops, who had been fighting in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, are training 10 hours a day, including weekends.
[[FOR RADIO: Here is Polish Major Artur Pinkovsky, base spokesman]]
((Artur Pinkovsky, Polish Army Major (in Polish))
“The training is very condensed in timing; the time is the element that is the biggest issue for us. Ukrainian troops are experienced; they came here straight from the front line.”
((NARRATION))
Instead of the usual three months, officials say the Ukrainians will be ready to take these tanks to the battlefield in little more than a month.
Ukrainian Amy Major Vadym Khodak is leading the training and says his troops are poised to learn quickly.
((Vadym Khodak, Ukrainian Army Major (in Ukrainian))
“My soldiers have combat experience. They didn’t come from the street. They’ve been fighting on our tanks for some time, so it is a lot easier for them to learn how to use this.”
((NARRATION))
Khodak says these tanks will be key on the battlefield.
((Vadym Khodak, Ukrainian Army Major (in Ukrainian))
“At the moment, we are very short of armored vehicles and I hope that when we get to the front line with this equipment, it will save a lot of lives of our soldiers and bring us closer to victory.”
((NARRATOR))
The first delivery of 14 battlefield tanks is planned as soon as next month. Leopard 2 tanks are expected to boost Kyiv forces as the war with Russia approaches the one-year mark.
European partners plan to send two Leopard 2 tank battalions to Ukraine. There are around 2,000 Leopard 2 vehicles spread across Europe.
Officials say they expect the first delivery of 14 battlefield-ready tanks “as a first step” next month.
Polish President Andrzej Duda visited the training site on Monday and praised Ukrainian’s fighting against Russia.
((Andrzej Duda, Polish President (in Polish))
“Ukrainians are defending us all, they are defending Europe as well against new Russian imperialism, and we know the face of Russian imperialism from our history and our neighbors Ukrainians are defending us, and we thank them for that.”
((NARRATION))
Duda added Poland is offering support for the Ukrainians and called on Western allies to send more equipment to Ukraine in weeks to come.
((Myroslava Gongadze, VOA News, Swietoszow, Poland.))
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