25.03.2015 16:35
Press office of President
President welcomed the first U.S. Air Force plane with American armored vehicles - Official web-site of President of Ukraine
In Boryspil International Airport, President Petro Poroshenko has welcomed the U.S. Air Force plane with the first lot of American armored vehicles.
Humvees were delivered to Ukraine pursuant to the U.S. decision on sending the defense means to Ukraine. Overall, 10 heavily armored vehicles were delivered. They will be equipped with Ukrainian weapons and then, 8 of them will be conveyed to the units of highly mobile airborne troops and 2 will be sent to the special units of the Security Service of Ukraine. The President has handed the certificates for these vehicles to the commanders of the abovementioned units.
Overall, the US is planning to supply 230 Humvees, 30 of them heavily armored. Another two lots with 20 heavily armored vehicles will have been delivered to Ukraine by April and the rest 200 vehicles will be sent within 45 days.
In the course of the meeting ceremony, the President noted that the provision of the given equipment had demonstrated real support from the United States in the issue of struggle for territorial integrity and sovereignty. "Comprehensive dialogue between Kyiv and Washington, as well as the provision of support for Ukraine by the United States are a real evidence of strategic partnership between our countries," the Head of State said.
The President has expressed gratitude to the American party and everyone involved in sending and receiving the cargo for the prompt work that will help save lives of Ukrainian soldiers. "On behalf of the people of Ukraine, I would like to express gratitude to the United States for consistent and firm position on the settlement of the conflict in Donbas. For recognizing Russia a country that carries out aggression against Ukraine. For the initiative and persistence in the matter of sanctions. For the solidarity with us and leadership in the elaboration of single position of the entire Euro-Atlantic community," the Head of State noted.
"We are strongly aiming at political and diplomatic settlement of interstate conflict in Donbas. However, due to constant violations of the ceasefire regime, the enemy makes us intensify the efforts on enhancing our defense capacity. Still, our resources are restricted. Thus, military-technical assistance from the USA and other countries is timely and increasingly necessary," the Head of State emphasized.
The President is hopeful that these vehicles will ensure reliable protection of our militaries and increase their combat capabilities. "I am confident that Ukrainian officers and soldiers will use these vehicles with maximum efficiency," Petro Poroshenko said.
The President has noted that it was not the first equipment provided by the USA. Our soldiers already use modern means of digital secure communications, counter-battery radars, night vision devices, robotic demining systems and medical equipment.
The President has examined the vehicles and the Ukrainian military module that will complement them. Having examined the Humvee, Petro Poroshenko noted: "Behind the wheel, I understood that it is an extremely efficient and powerful military vehicle long-awaited by the Ukrainian army".
HMMWV or Humvee is a High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. Civilian adaptation of this vehicle is called Hummer.