Australia Announces Long-Awaited Support Package to Ukraine
On the 26 June 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese alongside Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles pledged Australia’s further support to Ukraine worth AU$110 million.
Australia has pledged to send 70 military vehicles which will include:
- 28 M113 armoured vehicles,
- 14 Special Operations Vehicles
- 28 MAN 40M medium trucks with 14 trailers
A supply of 105mm artillery ammunition, and a further $10 million to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs to help with humanitarian issues in Ukraine. This brings Australia’s contribution to the support of Ukraine to AU$790 million.
Australia will also be extending Ukraine’s access to tariff-free goods for a further 12 months.
The Australian government has stood with Ukraine since the initial invasion 16 months ago, and Prime Minister Albanese labelled the war “illegal, unprovoked, and immoral”.
The military equipment provided will come from Australia’s existing stockpile, and will not include the much sought-for Hawkei vehicles despite intensifying requests from Ukraine. The Hawkei is a light transport vehicle which is a versatile, C4I integrated and protected vehicle manufactured by Thales. Hawkei, however, has not reached Full Operational Capability, which may explain why it was left out of the announced package.
In October 2022, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles said:
“Since their arrival, the Bushmasters have been used extensively by the Ukrainian Armed Forces with more requested by the Ukrainian President, Minister for Defence, and the Ambassador.”
Ukraine already has a total of 90 gifted Bushmasters from Australia, and a total of AU$475 million dedicated to military assistance overall since the beginning of the conflict.
Members of the opposition, such as Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton has labelled this a much needed support package, however also noted that it “has taken too long, and is too little.”
Ukrainian officials are working closely with Australia to work out new packages in the future to further support their war effort against the Russian invasion.