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The defence minister has praised Ukraine’s “completely inspirational” resilience after the nation’s military forces recaptured territory from Russian aggressors.
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Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles has heralded the efforts of Ukraine’s armed forces, which recently advanced north from Kharkiv to within 50 kilometres of the border with Russia.
According to Ukrainian chief commander General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Ukrainian forces have recaptured a total of 3,000 square kilometres this month.
Reports suggest Russia is withdrawing units, however, fighting continues around the cities of Kupiansk and Izium.
Deputy Prime Minister Marles described Ukraine’s recent success as “completely inspirational” and praised the leadership of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“If we wind back the clock to February of this year, I don’t think anyone imagined that Ukraine would stand up in the way that they have, and it has been heroic,” he told the ABC.
“And the news in the last few days is similarly so.”
However, the minister for defence acknowledged the outcome of the clash remains uncertain.
“This needs ongoing support. And there is a very important principle at stake here,” he added.
Deputy Prime Minister Marles went on to note the importance of defending the “global rules-based order”, threatened by Russian aggression in Europe.
“It is completely unacceptable that a large country seeks to impose itself on a smaller neighbour, not by reference to any international rule of law but by reference to might and power,” he said.
“I mean, that proposition simply can’t stand. And that’s why even though Ukraine is a long way from Australia, we have been standing with Ukraine as the largest non-NATO contributor to Ukraine, and we’ll continue to provide that support in an ongoing way.”
Thus far, the value of Australia’s military assistance to Ukraine totals approximately $388 million, including the delivery of 60 Bushmasters and 28 M113 armoured personnel carriers.
Ukraine’s ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, has called for further support, advocating for the delivery of 30 Thales-built Hawkei protected mobility vehicles to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Described as a “win-win” arrangement, he said the deal would enable the Australian Army to test the newly built vehicles in a live warzone before official deployment with the Australian Army.
Myroshnychenko has also requested a further 30 Bushmasters for Ukraine.
[Related: HIMAR reload, high-speed missiles in new arms package for Ukraine]
