Following a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Australia sent the first Bushmaster armored vehicles to Ukraine on Friday.
Three of the 1.7 million euro troop carriers were loaded onto a military transport plane at Amberley Military Airport in Queensland.
The olive-green armored vehicles were painted on the side with Ukrainian flags and the words "United with Ukraine" in English and Ukrainian, according to Defense Secretary Peter Dutton.
With this, Australia wanted to express its support for the government and the people of Ukraine, said Dutton when loading the vehicles.
Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko thanked Australia for the prompt response to the request and the armored vehicles,
Till Fähnders
Political correspondent for Southeast Asia.
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In total, the Australian government has announced the donation of 20 of these versatile vehicles to Ukraine, which Dutton says will gradually be brought to Ukraine over the next few days.
The pledge came shortly after the Ukrainian president's online speech to parliament in Canberra a week ago, during which he directly asked the government to help his country supply the Bushmasters.
In total, Australia has pledged defense aid to Ukraine totaling the equivalent of 113 million euros.
In addition, there is almost 45 million euros in humanitarian aid and 70,000 tons of coal for the Ukrainian energy industry.
In addition, Australia has imposed its own sanctions on Russia.
The Australian government will take further steps to ensure Russia pays the highest possible price for its military actions, the minister said.
He called on Russia to end its "groundless, unjust and illegal invasion" of Ukraine.