Ireland donates vehicles, de-mining robots to Ukrainian army

By Mehmet Solmaz

BIRMINGHAM, England (AA) — The Irish Defense Forces have announced that it has sent 34 vehicles, including ambulances, minibuses, trucks, and 16 Ford Rangers to Ukraine.

The delivery of the vehicles was made to a coordination hub in Rzeszow, southeastern Poland, for donation to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The contribution also includes three robotic units designed to clear mines and explosive devices, bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities amid the ongoing war with Russia, RTE reported on Thursday.

The vehicles, previously utilized by the Irish Defense Forces, were transported in two convoys from Ireland, with the first arriving on Sept. 5.

The donation, part of Ireland’s commitment to the European Peace Facility (EPF), underscores the country’s ongoing support for Ukraine through providing non-lethal aid.

Speaking on the deployment of the vehicles, Defense Minister Simon Harris said: “It is imperative that we continue to stand firm in the face of ongoing Russian aggression and support Ukraine in whatever way we can.

"This donation is a practical example of that support, reflecting Ireland’s provision of non-lethal aid to the Ukrainian Armed Forces following Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Since 2022, Ireland has pledged at least €350 million in non-lethal military aid to Ukraine, reflecting its ongoing commitment to peace-building efforts in the region.

Harris said the issue of sending Irish peacekeepers to Ukraine was "beyond an abstract conversation at the moment" as there is "no indication at all that Putin wishes to see anything like peace".

"He (Putin) continues to invade EU airspace in terms of the drones in Romania and Poland, and indeed continues to terrorize the civilian population,” he said adding: “However, if we get to a moment where there is a peace agreement that requires peacekeepers, why would we not consider at that moment deploying the troops?”