Italy reinforces Ukraine with M113 armoured vehicles, air defence systems

Italy is preparing to dispatch 400 M113 tracked armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and additional components for the SAMP/T air defence system to Ukraine as part of its 11th military aid package.

The M113 APCs, originally developed by the United States and extensively used during the Vietnam War, are now employed primarily for infantry transport, Caliber.Az reports citing Italian media.

Their deployment underscores Italy’s continued military backing for Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia.

Defence Minister Guido Crosetto informed the parliamentary security committee that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally appealed to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for further military support during his visit to Rome in late April, which coincided with the funeral of Pope Francis.

In response, Italian leadership reaffirmed its commitment to Kyiv, signaling ongoing support despite domestic and international political sensitivities. The full list of materials included in the 11th aid tranche remains classified; however, media reports confirm the inclusion of M113 APCs, which have been supplied in previous aid packages.

Italy has also delivered two SAMP/T air defence systems to Ukraine in earlier phases of military assistance. The upcoming shipment will include additional components to enhance the operational capabilities of those systems, which play a critical role in shielding Ukrainian infrastructure from missile and drone attacks.

By Vafa Guliyeva