The Australian government has come under pressure from Ukraine to provide more assistance to its war effort as Russia pushes on with its spring offensive.
Russia is currently focusing its attacks on the eastern Donetsk region, where several cities and towns have been under heavy bombardment, Ukraine’s general staff said on Tuesday reported Reuters. Ukrainian forces have accused Russia of using “scorched earth” tactics.
“The enemy switched to so-called scorched earth tactics from Syria. It is destroying buildings and positions with air strikes and artillery fire,” Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of Ukraine’s ground forces, said of Bakhmut.
Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, told ABC Radio National on Wednesday that he believed Australia is falling behind other non-NATO countries in terms of the assistance provided to Ukraine and would like to see more military aid coming from Australia.
“So once Australia was the largest non-NATO contributor to Ukraine, but other countries have overtaken Australia recently,” Myroshnychenko said.
“Australian support for Ukraine is essential. We really appreciate what has been provided so far, but we can’t win without your support.”
The ambassador went on to say that Ukraine needs constant, consistent and comprehensive support.
“Our fight is not about [fighting] for as long as it takes; our fight is ensuring that we can win as soon as possible,” he said.
Australia has provided $582 million dollars of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, including 90 Bushmaster vehicles which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised for their masterful performance in helping drive back Russian forces from the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine Wants More Australian Tactical Vehicles
Myroshnychenko and the Ukrainian government have launched a social media campaign calling on the Australian government and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to provide Ukraine with Australia’s latest armoured vehicle, the Hawkei.In a viral post on Twitter, the Ukrainian government has said that they love the Bushmasters, but they have a new crush, the Hawkei.
It can carry up to five personnel, is highly mobile, and is light enough to be loaded onto a Chinook CH-47 helicopter, allowing for greater mobility in the field. It also has a “protected mobility combat system,” which provides protection from ammunition blasts, and it can operate command and control networks over large distances, all the while offering significant striking ability.
Myroshnychenko said the Ukrainian government believed that the new vehicles would not only help save soldiers’ lives but would work well with the Bushmasters, which are already in the field.
“You’ve seen how well they [Bushmasters] performed, and I’m sure the Hawkeis could perform that well, and they could be together they’re in company, helping to protect democracy, human rights, and all the fundamental values.”
The government and Thales have since worked through the issues, with the vehicles now deployed in the field.
Australian Government Still Assessing Request
However, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has not confirmed if Australia will donate the Hawkeis to Ukraine.Speaking to Radio National on Wednesday, Wong said that Australia would consider any request from Ukraine but pointed out that Australia also had responsibilities in the Indo-pacific.
“We'll consider any requests from Ukraine,” she said.
“We do what we can in many parts of the world. We’ve obviously provided quite a lot of both humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, and we will consider this request as we’ve considered all requests, and since we’ve come to government, we’ve added to the military assistance that has been provided.
“I would make the point also we are obviously providing a lot of support, including security assistance in our near region, as is our responsibility and as you would expect us to do in order to assure Australian and regional stability.”
Wong noted that while the conflict in Ukraine was a long way from the Pacific, its principle mattered deeply to Australia and the region.
“That’s the principle that a greater power should not be able to infringe upon another country’s sovereignty and set territorial integrity,” she said.
“That was the settlement post-World War II–the principle, which countries agreed after that terrible war, which has enabled peace and stability. That’s why we all must stand firm against the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine.”
