Portugal sends armoured ambulances to Ukraine

The Minister of National Defence Helena Carreiras announced that Portugal will send to Ukraine a set of five armoured vehicles for relief and medical support in the operations theatre during the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which met today in person in Ramstein, Germany, also signalling a year since the Group was created.

These are three armoured vehicles of the type M113 prepared to transport the wounded and two vehicles of the type M577 in a medical version, that is, for setting up advanced assistance posts. 

With this new donation, which is being prepared for shipping, the total of lethal and non-lethal military equipment sent by Portugal to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion will stand at 770 tonnes. 

In articulation with the Armed Forces, the Portuguese Government sent to Ukraine Leopard 2A6 tanks, M113 armoured vehicles, unmanned surveillance aircraft, weapons and ammunitions, generators with major capabilities to generate electricity, individual protection gear and communications gear, medical and sanitary equipment, and first aid kits for combat. 

 During the meeting, Helena Carreiras also informed that Portugal will supply to 105mm rounds to the Ukrainian armed forces.

 Before the partners and allies gathered in Ramstein, the Minister of National Defence reiterated Portugal’s commitment to defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and integrity. The Ministry of National Defence and the General Chief of Staff are permanently in touch with the Ukrainian armed forces and analyse Kiev’s requests, which our country will meet according to our capabilities and availability.

 During the morning the Ministers of Defence (or their representatives) of the countries that possess Leopard tanks met to discuss ways in which to support Ukraine in the logistics of this military capability recently offered by the partners and allies, through the creation of an assistance and maintenance centre. 

 Portuguese military officers on EU training mission in Germany

 Under the EU Military Assistance Mission Ukraine (EUMAM-UA), five Portuguese military officers are offering medical training to Ukrainian soldiers in Germany, until the end of the month. Before that, in February, five military officers were part of a first group of observers. 

 According to the EUMAM-UA planning, new training courses offered by Portuguese officers will take place in June, in the fields of military instruction and deactivating explosive devices.