SAU KHI QUỐC HỘI ÚC NGHE ZELANSKYY HỘI KIẾN ONLINE- ÚC ĐỒNG Ý GỞI XE BỌC THÉP SANG TRỢ CHIẾN CHO UKRAINE CHỐNG PUTIN./-TCLãnh

Australia working through logistics of sending armoured vehicles to UkraineAustralia is working out how to get some of its Bushmaster armoured vehicles to Ukraine after the government agreed to a plea from the war-torn nation’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, for more military support

Scott Morrison has announced Australia will send armoured vehicles to Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky asked for them in his address to Parliament on Thursday.

CREDIT:

ALEX ELLINGHAUSEN

Prime Minister Scott Morrison confirmed on Friday that some of the Australian-made four-wheel-drive armoured vehicles would be sent to Ukraine, along with $25 million of military support announced on Thursday.

“We’re not just sending our prayers, we’re sending our guns, we’re sending our munitions, we’re sending our humanitarian aid ... and body armour and all of these things,” he said. “We’re going to be sending our armoured vehicles, our Bushmasters as well.”

RELATED ARTICLE

Russia-Ukraine war

Ukraine President asks Australia for armoured vehicles and more weapons

Defence officials told a Senate estimates hearing there had been discussions throughout the night about how the Bushmasters could be supplied after Mr Zelensky specifically asked for them in an address to Federal Parliament on Thursday evening.

The Ukrainian leader said Bushmasters “could help Ukraine substantially” and asked for “other pieces of equipment that could strengthen our position in terms of armaments”.

“If you have an opportunity to share this with us, we would be very grateful. In Ukraine, they will do much more for our common freedom, common security, than staying in parts of your land,” he said.

The latest estimates are that more than 1230 civilians and thousands of troops from both sides have been killed since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine more than a month ago, Department of Foreign Affairs officials told Senate estimates. More than 6.5 million people are internally displaced and another 4 million have fled Ukraine, with 2.3 million of them currently in neighbouring Poland.