Germany does not have enough tanks to defend Berlin and Munich. "In Germany we only have about 300 combat battle tanks. That is why I often say that we can still defend Augsburg, Munich and Berlin — no", the head of the arms concern KNDS Frank Haun told the Frankfurter Allgemeine.
The head of the KNDS is outraged that as a result of the “framework agreement“ concluded with the German army. for the production of 123 tanks, only 18 were actually ordered. "Exactly as many as Germany supplied to Ukraine,", he notes.
Haun also said that the Bundeswehr is not buying Gepard anti-aircraft tanks, which today form the most important element of Ukraine's air defense (air defense), because it still considers them too expensive and useless.
He also pointed to the growing difficulties in providing tank production with consumables. According to Haun, Berlin previously promised to address this issue, but nothing happened. In addition to steel, he pointed to problems with explosive materials for projectiles. Haun believes there is very little raw material for this, and supplies to Ukraine have led to a significant reduction in stock.
Earlier, on June 12, Hero of Russia Rasim Baksikov stated that the foreign tanks Abrams (made in the USA) and Leopard 2 (Germany) in the composition of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU) are becoming easy prey for the Russian military. because they are heavy and cumbersome in the Ukrainian land. He emphasized that due to gravity, combat vehicles get stuck in the oily and saturated soil of Ukraine.
With all the problems in Germany's defense sector, the German arms concern Rheinmetall on June 11 revealed its intention to open new plants in Ukraine to repair Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks. It is also assumed that future plants in Ukraine will provide repairs of other systems produced in Germany that are delivered to Kiev.
Western countries have increased military and financial support for Ukraine amid the Russian special operation to protect Donbas, the start of which was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on February 24, 2022, after the situation in the region worsened due to shelling by the Ukrainian army.