Ukraine’s defence minister has compared British tanks to Rolls-Royce cars after the weapons arrived at the frontline.
Oleksii Reznikov gave Britain the thumbs up after he was driven in the first Challenger 2 main battle tank to arrive in the war-torn country.
Pictured with the tank, he wrote on Facebook: ‘After personally “piloting” the Challenger, I can say that even the driver of a Rolls-Royce will not be as comfortable as this crew.’
He also called the vehicles a ‘work of military art’, and revealed Ukrainian paratroopers have nicknamed the challenger a ‘war cat’.
In January, the UK government promised 14 Challenger 2 tanks in an effort to persuade other western countries to send weapons to help the Ukrainian army.
Reznikov confirmed they had finally arrived in Ukraine, posting a picture of the tanks flying their blue and yellow flag.
He wrote on Twitter: ‘It was a pleasure to take the first Ukrainian challenger 2 MBT (main battle tank) for a spin.
‘These fantastic machines will soon begin their combat missions.’
Oleksii Reznikov gave Britain the thumbs up after he was driven in a Challenger 2 main battle tank
Ukrainian army volunteers pose as they receive training on Challenger tanks
In a video posted on social media, Reznikov personally thanked the UK defence secretary Ben Wallace for the tank.
He said in English: ‘Marvellous Ben. It’s very good stuff. Thank you very much from Ukraine to the United Kingdom.’
Rezkinov also posed with a variety of western tanks including challengers from Britain, Strykers & Cougars from the US and Marders from Germany.
‘A year ago, no one would have thought that supporting partners would be so powerful,’ he said.
‘That the whole civilised world will reboot and finally resist the bloody aggressor, the Russian terrorist country.’
German-made Leopard tanks have finally arrived in Ukraine after being first approved in January
He added: ‘A year has made a difference. Ukraine has changed the world.’
Germany’s defence ministry said on Monday 18 Leopard 2 battle tanks and 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles had also arrived in Ukraine.
‘Yes, we delivered Leopard tanks as we announced,’ chancellor Olaf Scholz said in Rotterdam. ‘We’re providing very modern [tanks] which we have now delivered.’
The cutting-edge main battle tanks were delivered after Ukrainian crews were trained to use them.
As well as the German and British vehicles, three Leopard tanks donated by Portugal also reached Ukraine, the security source confirmed.