Latvia has delivered 21 more armored personnel carriers to Ukraine as part of its ongoing support for its defense against Russian aggression, DPA reports, BTA reports.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal received the six-wheeled Patria combat vehicles during a visit to the Latvian military base in Adazi, not far from Riga.
“This is a clear sign of our friendship, partnership and our willingness to do everything possible”, said Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds. He stressed that Latvia has always supported Ukraine and continues to do so with full dedication.
Shmyhal thanked Latvia - a member of the EU and NATO - about the new delivery, noting that despite the development of drones and other modern technologies, traditional weapons platforms remain indispensable. According to him, armored personnel carriers are highly effective and help save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
This year alone, Latvia has provided a total of 42 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine.
Ukraine has been defending itself for more than three and a half years with large-scale support from the West against Russian attacks. Latvia, which shares a border with Russia and Belarus, is among Kiev's most active supporters. According to Minister Spruds, the country will allocate about 0.3% of its GDP for military aid this year.