On Monday, 13 February 2022, in Świętoszów, Lower Silesia, the Superior of the Polish Armed Forces, President Andrzej Duda and Deputy Prime Minister – Minister of National Defence Mariusz Błaszczak, met with instructors conducting training of soldiers of the Ukrainian armed forces on Leopard 2 tanks in the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade.

‘At the request of President Volodymyr Zelensky, we decided to donate a company of our Leopard 2A4 tanks to Ukraine so that Ukraine could counter the Russian onslaught with modern tanks of NATO standard, much more modern than what it has had at its disposal so far,’ President Andrzej Duda recalled.

As Deputy Prime Minister Mariusz Blaszczak stressed, this equipment has an undoubted advantage. It is about stopping the growth of the Russian empire. ‘The Ukrainians are bravely defending their country’, said the head of the Ministry of National Defence.

“I have agreed with my German counterpart Minister Pistorius that the Polish side will focus on building a coalition of countries that have Leopard 2A4 tanks. Germany will be making a coalition of countries that have Leopard 2A6 tanks”, informed Mariusz Błaszczak. He assured that such a coalition is being formed. „Canada has handed over its tanks to Poland, and Ukrainian soldiers, together with Canadian instructors, are training their skills on them. We are waiting for Norwegian tanks with instructors, and talks with the Spanish side are also advanced”, added the Deputy Prime Minister.

The training carried out at the 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade includes the training of Leopard tank crews. The coordination of the mission is entrusted to the commander of the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division. The training of Ukrainian tank crews in Poland is also supported by Canadian allies as instructors.

The 10th Armoured Cavalry Brigade is part of the 11th Armoured Cavalry Division. The LEOPARD Training Centre was established in 2007 and is equipped with a state-of-the-art modern battlefield simulation base. 

Adrian Andrzejewski