The so-called «winter package» of military aid provided by Germany seeks primarily to strengthen Ukrainian air defense capabilities to protect its critical infrastructure from Russian missiles and drones.
Deutschland schnürt zweites Winterpaket für die #Ukraine: Zum Schutz kritischer Infrastruktur und zur weiteren Unterstützung liefert ???????? zusätzliche #Luftverteidigung mit #Patriot, #IRIS-T SLM & SLS im Wert von rund 1 Mrd. EUR sowie drei Flugabwehrkanonenpanzer Gepard. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/G7NlPnuSN6
— Verteidigungsministerium (@BMVg_Bundeswehr) October 10, 2023
«In order to protect critical infrastructure upon the arrival of winter and to provide further military support, Germany is supplying Ukraine with additional air defense with Patriot, IRIS-T and Gepard systems,» Defense Minister Boris Pistorius explained ahead of a new meeting of the Contact Group with Ukraine. «With this new ‘winter package’, we further increase the operational readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces in the coming months,» he added.
At the core of the «winter package» are additional Patriot and IRIS-T air defense systems. This air defense package alone is valued at about one billion euros.
Last week, the German government had already promised Ukrainian President Selenskij a second Patriot air defense battery. This one comes directly from the stock of the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). In addition to the fire control center and radar unit, eight other launchers and probably more than 60 guided missiles are included. Training of Ukrainian soldiers on the German system will begin in the coming weeks.
With the delivery of further IRIS-T systems, Germany is fulfilling commitments made to Ukraine in previous months. In October, Ukraine will receive a third IRIS-T SLM system with medium-range guided missiles and a second IRIS-T SLS system for the short range, both of which showed good effectiveness against Russian cruise missiles and suicide drones since they were deployed in Ukraine.
Three Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft systems will also be supplied. Gepard, despite their age, proved to be a highly successful short-range air defense system against drones and missiles, thanks to their 35 mm cannons and AHEAD programmable ammunition.
A video shared on Telegram by the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shows the «Gepard» artillery system in action in the Odessa region on Sept. 7. pic.twitter.com/mcud7FiGDb
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) September 7, 2023
More ammunition, vehicles and weapons
For the Ukrainian special forces there is also another extensive support package. It consists of vehicles, weapons and personal equipment worth more than 20 million euros. This will make the Ukrainian special forces even more combat-ready, Pistorius stressed.
See also: Germany will not deliver Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine… for the time being
A continuous supply of ammunition has also been secured. Additional 155-millimeter ammunition is currently being supplied. In addition, ten more Leopard 1 A5 main battle tanks, 15 protected transport vehicles and almost 20 protected medical vehicles will arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks.
In Europe, Germany is Ukraine’s main supporter, second in the world after the United States. This affects both the delivery of equipment, ammunition and supplies and the training of Ukrainian troops. By the end of 2023, a total of 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers will have received training in Germany.
