Australia to send dozens of armoured vehicles to Ukraine

Australia will send 30 Bushmaster armoured personnel carriers to Ukraine and deploy up to 70 instructors in the UK to train the Ukrainian military.

Australian troops will travel to the UK to train Ukrainian servicemen, helping to bolster the eastern European nation's defences, RBC-Ukraine reports, citing the ABC broadcasting corporation.

A contingent of 70 servicemen from the Austrian Defence Forces will join the UK-led multinational exercise just after Christmas but will not enter Ukraine. This commitment is part of a second support package announced by the Australian government that includes an additional 30 protected vehicles Bushmaster.

The federal budget allocated more than $200 million this week for additional assistance to Ukraine, including $185.6 million for defence from existing resources. Australia's total financial support exceeds $655 million, including $475 million in military aid to the war-torn country. An additional 30 Bushmasters will bring the total number of protected vehicles sent to Ukraine to 90.

In addition to the Bushmasters, Australia provided six M777 towed howitzers and ammunition, 28 units of M113 armoured personnel carriers, and anti-tank and other weapons.