Despite critical voices from the armed forces, the Netherlands is giving ‘a limited number’ of armored howitzers to Ukraine. This will be done together with the Germans, says Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren today after consultations in Germany.
The armored howitzer is the heaviest artillery in the Army. The Netherlands will only supply the howitzer, the Germans will provide the training and will also supply the necessary ammunition to the government in Kiev, which has requested this equipment.
Germany will also take care of the logistics for getting the guns to the location where the Ukrainian soldiers who will use the armored howitzers will be trained. According to Ollongren, the equipment will be heading that way within a month.
Training takes a while
The training of the Ukrainians ‘takes some time’, according to the minister. “At least weeks and maybe months.” But even after the war, the weapons will be of great significance to the Ukrainian army, she says.
This fits exactly with what Ukraine says it needs now
The Ukrainians say that at this stage of the war, with heavy fighting in the Donbas and in the south, they can only win the battle with this type of heavy artillery. Ollongren: ,,This fits exactly with what Ukraine says it needs now.”
Striking power of the Dutch army
There are objections to the delivery within the armed forces. At the end of last week, the cabinet already announced that it would probably send this heavy artillery. According to chairman Niels van Woensel of the Dutch Officers Association, the delivery could have consequences for the deployability and effectiveness of the Dutch army.
,,We don’t need all the 29 howitzers in stock right now, but it is important for our own deployability that we have them in stock”, says Van Woensel. And the armed forces already lack firepower.
According to the minister, the supply is not at the expense of the own deployability of the own army. “That’s why we deliver a limited number.” The armored howitzers that are now being sent are in storage. Defense will keep a reserve stock, she says.
We don’t need all the 29 howitzers in depot right now, but it is important for our own deployability that we have them in stock
Don’t just invade sovereign land
The Army has a total of 54 armored howitzers and is struggling with all kinds of shortages. Ollongren finds it justifiable to deliver anyway. “It is extremely important, also for us, that the Russians cannot just invade a sovereign country in Europe and get away with it.”
There is a risk that the weapons will fall into the hands of the Russians. “You can’t take that away,” says Ollongren. “At the same time, we are doing it because we think it is important that Ukraine can defend itself. And they can only do that if countries like the Netherlands help them with weapons and weapon systems.”
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