Leopard 2A4 Tanks Seen in Spain’s Bilbao Port, Purpose Remains Undisclosed

19 December, 2024 Leopard 2A4 tanks in the port of Bilbao. Spain. December 16, 2024.

Photo credits: Guardia Civil Bizkaia A batch of Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks was spotted in the port of Bilbao, Spain, ready to be loaded onto a ship. A photo of the vehicles was recently posted on X by the Civil Guard of the province of Biscay.

Ukrainian blogger and tank history researcher Andriy Tarasenko suggests that these tanks may be intended for Ukraine. At the same time, there are no official statements from the Spanish government or the Ministry of Defense on this matter.

Leopard 2A4 tanks in the port of Bilbao. Spain.

December 16, 2024. Photo credits: Guardia Civil Bizkaia

After the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine received Leopard 2A4 tanks as part of military aid from Spain, which are being restored and overhauled at the Santa Barbara Sistemas plant in Seville.

Leopard 2A4 tanks in the port of Bilbao. Spain.

December 16, 2024. Photo credits: Guardia Civil Bizkaia

The previous batch of 10 units was shipped to Ukraine in mid-July 2024. They were part of the tanks promised by the Spanish government in March 2024.

The repair work on these combat vehicles was completed in a record three months, and they were ready for delivery at the end of June. With this delivery, the total number of Leopard 2A4s that Spain has provided to the Ukrainian Defense Forces has reached 20 units.

A Leopard 2A4 with a Ukrainian crew during training in Zaragoza, Spain, on March 13, 2023. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Spain

At the same time, the Spanish Ministry of Defense noted at the time that the next batch of tanks was planned to be delivered in the second half of 2024.

It is no surprise that a photo of freshly painted Leopard 2A4 tanks at a Spanish port has led observers and social media users to speculate that they are destined for Ukraine.

Spanish VAMTAC armored vehicle of the Spanish Army.

2023. Photo credits: flickr.com

Spain also supplied the Ukrainian Defense Forces with VAMTAC armored vehicles as part of its support.

The Spanish Ministry of Defense did not specify the exact number of vehicles transferred.

But it is known that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are well acquainted with this equipment and actively use it on the battlefield.