PHOTO: 2,000 Norwegian anti-tank rockets are on their way to Ukraine
On Thursday, Norway sent 2,000 M72 anti-tank missiles to Ukraine to contribute to the Ukrainian fight against the Russian invasion. The plane carrying the missiles took off from Gardermoen without any problems.
In the morning, the rockets were packed into a Hercules C130 transport aircraft at Gardermoen. Just before 10 o’clock, the plane took off from Gardermoen without any problems.
“It’s an anti-tank weapon. You can say that it is an individual’s weapon against tanks,” Commander Remi Jakobsen from the Norwegian Armed Forces’ logistics organization (FLO) told NTB.
“It is a relatively simple weapon to use. It is a defense against tanks, and it could have an effect there,” Jakobsen said.
The rockets will be sent to a third country before being transported to Ukraine. The Ukrainians have asked the West for weapons to fight the Russian attack.
Arms shipment
The weapons were sent from the military part at Gardermoen airport on Thursday. A relatively large press corps had turned up to watch the arms shipment.
Two trucks loaded tightly packed pallets with sleeping pads, field rations, and anti-tank missiles on board the transport aircraft.
After a final functionality check of the propellers, the plane took off to an unknown third country.
New development
Large parts of Europe have chosen to provide the with Ukrainians weapons. In countries such as Norway, Sweden, and Germany, that marks a break with years of tradition and legislation against weapons being sent to countries at war.
There has been broad agreement in the Norwegian parliament (Storting) to change the Norwegian practice and send weapons to Ukraine. The Red Party (Rødt) and the Socialist Left Party (SV) were against changing the practice.
Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (AP) said that Norway is offering arms support to defend Ukraine against the military attack from Russia.
Warning from Russia
“We are thus on the same line as close allies and the other Nordic countries. Norway has a restrictive practice for the export of defense equipment, but Ukraine is now in an extraordinary situation,” Støre said.
“This is a contribution to support Ukraine in their defense against the military invasion. These are weapons that are easy to use,” Minister of Defense Odd Roger Enoksen (SP) stated.
Russian authorities have warned countries not to send weapons to Ukraine.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
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