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Norwegian army says delivery of tanks to Ukraine complete

Norway on Monday announced that it had delivered eight Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, a contribution that along with those of other countries will be "decisive" for an upcoming Ukrainian counter-offensive.

Published: 20 March 2023 17:14 CET

Pictured is a Leopard tank.

A tank type Leopard 2A6 of the German Army (Bundeswehr) is pictured at the Armoured Corps Training Centre (Panzertruppenschule. (Photo by FOCKE STRANGMANN / AFP)

“The eight Leo (Leopard) 2s are all in Ukraine,” Stine Barclay Gaasland, spokeswoman for the Norwegian Armed Forces, told AFP in an email.

The Scandinavian country announced in February that it would give eight of its ageing Leopard 2A4s to Ukraine. Norway intends to replace the tanks with the more modern Leopard 2A7s, and has recently ordered 54.

“For Ukraine, the donation of tanks will be decisive to their ability to conduct offensive operations and retake the lands occupied by Russia,” lieutenant colonel Lars Jensen, head of Norway’s Armoured Battalion, was quoted saying in a statement.

In addition to the tanks, Norway has pledged to provide Kyiv with up to four support vehicles, ammunition and spare parts.

Ukrainian crews are currently being trained to operate the Leopard tanks in Poland under the auspices of the European Union, the Norwegian Armed Forces
said.

Several other countries, including Poland, Germany, Sweden, Spain, Finland and Canada have also delivered or promised Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

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Norway uncovers Russian agents amid sabotage concerns

Torgils Lutro, head of PST Vest, disclosed in an interview with the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) that these agents may have been preparing for acts of sabotage.

NRK noted that potential targets could have included Haakonsvern, northern Europe’s largest naval base, as well as crucial oil, gas, and power facilities in the region.

Lutro said that Russian agents were focused on gathering intelligence on critical infrastructure, military installations, and Norwegian preparedness routines.

While the exact number of exposed agents remains undisclosed, the PST has previously warned about the risks posed by Russian espionage and that espionage activity has heightened since Russia invaded Ukraine.

“In Vestland (County), we have strongly suspected, but have also uncovered, hostile and unwanted Russian intelligence activities since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022,” Lutro said.

Russia’s motives

The PST Vest chief suggested that Russia aimed to tarnish Norway’s reputation among its allies.

“It’s evident that one of Russia’s objectives is to portray us in a negative light. They seek to demonstrate that we lack control over our own affairs or that we’re unable to support our allies during future crises,” he said.

Following the war in Ukraine, Norwegian authorities have expelled over 15 people from the Russian embassy in Norway over suspected espionage.

This has prompted Russia to reassess its intelligence personnel and resources, according to the PST.

“Identifying these agents isn’t straightforward. They blend into society, which is part of their job. They may not even hold Russian citizenship, but are motivated by factors like money or threats,” Lutro said.

The PST has consistently highlighted Russian intelligence activities as a growing threat to Norway’s security in its annual threat assessments, including the most recent one in 2024.

“We’ve employed various methods to uncover these activities, and in some instances, we have a clear understanding of how they operate,” Lutro said.

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