Zelensky: Ukraine will receive Gepard anti-aircraft guns to protect energy facilities
9 September, 2023 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
2023. Photo credits: Command of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine As part of international defense assistance, Ukraine will receive more Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns to protect its energy infrastructure from Russian attacks.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced this in a video address. On Saturday, September 9, the meeting of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief was held to address the issue of protection of Ukraine's energy sector and critical infrastructure from Russian air strikes. Air defense systems will be provided to the Ukrainian Defense Forces by partners who support Ukraine in resisting the Russian invasion.
"And I want to thank our partners - we have another agreement, Ukraine will receive more Gepard anti-aircraft guns to protect our energy network," the President said. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine was also mobilizing all its forces to increase the supply of various air defense systems and the physical protection of energy facilities.
In Ukraine, Gepard anti-aircraft guns have become an effective weapon against Iranian-made Shahed kamikaze drones used by the Russian invasion forces to attack various targets. The Ukrainian troops use Gepard, in particular, to protect critical infrastructure. Gepard anti-aircraft guns can engage air targets at a distance of 3-4 kilometers.
Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
2023. Photo credits: Command of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine currently have 46 Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns in service. At the beginning of September, Ukraine received 35-mm shells for Gepard anti-aircraft guns from Germany from a new production line of the Rheinmetall AG.
Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft gun.
2023.
Photo credits: Command of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
In February 2023, the German Ministry of Defense, acting on behalf of Ukraine, signed a contract with Rheinmetall AG to produce 300,000 35-mm shells for the Gepard anti-aircraft guns used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
As Militarnyi previously reported, in July, Ukraine received six Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns and more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition from Germany.