The Australian government has announced it will provide heavy artillery weapons and ammunition to Ukraine’s armed forces as Russia continues its military offensive in the European nation.
The commitment by Australia’s prime minister and defence minister was made while the government is in caretaker mode during its federal elections.
In response to more pleas from Ukrainian officials, Australia will supply a further $26.7 million (US$19.1 million) worth of military assistance, providing six M777 lightweight towed howitzers along with ammunition to bolster the country’s resistance to Russia’s “brutal, unrelenting and illegal” invasion.
“Australia stands with the people of Ukraine and again calls on Russia to cease its unprovoked, unjust and illegal invasion of Ukraine,” said Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Defence Minister Peter Dutton in a joint release on April 27.
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