The Dutch Ministry of Defence is sending YPR armored infantry vehicles to Ukraine to support the country’s ground military capabilities amidst Russia’s continued aggression.
Revealed in Brussels, the package will consist of 25 vehicles in a medical transport configuration to improve the movement of wounded troops on the frontlines.
The pledge was announced by Netherlands Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans during the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, an allied consortium organizing military and humanitarian aid for the Eastern European country.
“We are approaching the sad milestone of 3 years of large-scale Russian aggression in Ukraine,” Brekelmans remarked.
“For 3 years, Ukrainians have been fighting tirelessly for their future. And with it, our freedom and security. The Netherlands has committed more than €10 billion ($10.4 billion) in military support. Of this, approximately €6 billion ($6.2 billion) has been realized.”
“Especially now that Ukrainians are having a hard time on the front, we must continue our support unabated. Peace with Russia is only possible through military force.”
The YPR Infantry Vehicle
The YPR tracked system’s chassis is protected by combined aluminum and laminated steel sheets. It weighs 13.7 tonnes (30,203 kilograms) and measures 5 meters (16 feet) long.
The vehicle is operated by a three-man crew, can carry up to seven soldiers, and has a fuel capacity of more than 400 liters.
It is powered by a Detroit six-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with 264 horsepower for an operational range of 490 kilometers (304 miles) and a top speed of 61 kilometers (38 miles) per hour.
For combat designation, the YPR can be armed with a 20-millimeter autocannon and a 7.62-millimeter machine gun.
Update on T-72, F-16 Shipments
At the meeting in Brussels, Brekelmans confirmed that the final batch of T-72 main battle tanks it pledged to Kyiv in 2022 have successfully been delivered.
Concurrently, Ukraine received the latest tranche of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets for operational use that the Dutch government promised to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2023.
