On Saturday, the Australian government announced it has transferred M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as part of a new military aid package totaling 245 million Australian dollars to bolster defense against Russia.

This was reported by Reuters.

Australia, a key partner of Ukraine outside NATO, has been supplying military aid, ammunition, and defense equipment since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

According to Defense Minister Richard Marles, Ukraine has already received most of the 49 tanks provided by Australia, with the remainder set to arrive in the coming months.

Marles stated, "The M1A1 Abrams tanks will significantly contribute to Ukraine's ongoing struggle against Russia's unlawful invasion."

The tanks are part of a broader aid package of 1.5 billion Australian dollars that Canberra has allocated to Kyiv.

Australia has also banned the export of bauxite and aluminum ores to Russia and imposed sanctions on approximately 1,000 Russian individuals and organizations.

This year, the Australian government, led by the Labor Party, labeled Russia as the aggressor in the conflict and called for a resolution of the war on Ukraine's terms.

Previously, in October 2024, it was reported that Australia would send 49 Abrams tanks, soon to be decommissioned, as part of the military assistance package worth $245 million.