Germany has sent the first three of 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks promised to Ukraine. AFP
Germany has sent the first three of 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks promised to Ukraine. AFP
Germany has sent the first three of 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks promised to Ukraine. AFP
Germany has sent the first three of 15 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks promised to Ukraine. AFP

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Europe

Ukraine receives German rocket launchers in latest batch of weapons aid

Berlin sends anti-aircraft tanks and howitzers to bolster Ukraine's defence against Russia's offensive

Tim Stickings
Tim Stickings

July 27, 2022

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Germany has delivered three anti-aircraft tanks, three rocket launchers and three howitzers to Ukraine in its latest batch of military aid amid the Russian invasion.

The shipment included three Mars II multiple-launch rocket systems, the first of that class of weapon provided by Germany more than a month after it said it would hand them over.

The hold-up had been attributed by German officials to technical checks and measures to equip Ukrainian troops with the necessary training to operate the weapons, which have a range of 84 kilometres and are similar to American M270 models.

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Andriy Yermak, an aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, confirmed receipt of the Mars IIs and said they would be used to counter Russia's "politics of terror and blackmail".

Ukraine said it had received the first three Gepard anti-aircraft tanks from Germany, out of 15 promised, which Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said would help to protect the country's skies.

The Gepard, which entered service in the 1970s with the West German military, is no longer used by the German army but some stocks have been retained by weapons manufacturers.

There were also another three PzH 2000 howitzers in the package, in addition to seven which Germany said it had already delivered. Some have been provided by the Dutch military.

Germany has frequently been accused of moving too slowly to provide weapons to Ukraine, which has sometimes gone public with its frustration at Berlin, but Mr Reznikov said he was grateful for Germany's support.

The latest shipment was "a very strong message of resolve a day before the reduction of gas supply by Russia", said German diplomat Miguel Berger, referring to a cut in deliveries through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.

The latest set of rankings by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, which collects data on aid to Ukraine, showed Germany was sixth — behind the US, Poland, Britain, Canada and Norway — on the list of countries that have offered the most military support to Ukraine.

American M270 rocket launchers arrived in Ukraine this month while Britain has promised the same equipment and training on how to use it.

Ukraine-Russia conflict - in pictures

An elderly couple stands near a damaged school in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine. EPA
An elderly couple stands near a damaged school in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine. EPA
At least one person was killed after shelling hit the school, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service said. EPA
At least one person was killed after shelling hit the school, the Ukrainian State Emergency Service said. EPA
A woman walks past a destroyed market near a railway station in Donetsk. Reuters
A woman walks past a destroyed market near a railway station in Donetsk. Reuters
Municipal workers clean a street in Donetsk. Reuters
Municipal workers clean a street in Donetsk. Reuters
A man passes destroyed buildings in the Ukrainian town of Siversk. AFP
A man passes destroyed buildings in the Ukrainian town of Siversk. AFP
A destroyed school in Siversk. AFP
A destroyed school in Siversk. AFP
A Ukrainian serviceman passes by destroyed buildings in Siversk. AFP
A Ukrainian serviceman passes by destroyed buildings in Siversk. AFP
A woman's home is repaired by volunteers after being destroyed by shelling in the village of Zalissya. AFP
A woman's home is repaired by volunteers after being destroyed by shelling in the village of Zalissya. AFP
People fill up water canisters in Mykolaiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP
People fill up water canisters in Mykolaiv, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. AFP
Grain fields burn on the outskirts of Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. AP Photo
Grain fields burn on the outskirts of Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast, eastern Ukraine. AP Photo
The mother of Ukrainian serviceman Abdulkarim Gulamov, who was killed in a fight against Russian troops in Kherson, attends his funeral in Kyiv. Reuters
The mother of Ukrainian serviceman Abdulkarim Gulamov, who was killed in a fight against Russian troops in Kherson, attends his funeral in Kyiv. Reuters
People carry pictures of Mr Gulamov at the funeral. Reuters
People carry pictures of Mr Gulamov at the funeral. Reuters
Ukrainian service members fire a shell from a M777 Howitzer in Kharkiv. Reuters
Ukrainian service members fire a shell from a M777 Howitzer in Kharkiv. Reuters
A man walks in front of a damaged school after a missile strike hit the city of Kramatorsk. EPA
A man walks in front of a damaged school after a missile strike hit the city of Kramatorsk. EPA
A cyclist rides past burnt cars after a Russian rocket strike in Kharkiv. AFP
A cyclist rides past burnt cars after a Russian rocket strike in Kharkiv. AFP
Rescuers and servicemen work at a school building damaged by a Russian military strike in Kramatorsk. Reuters
Rescuers and servicemen work at a school building damaged by a Russian military strike in Kramatorsk. Reuters
Sasha, 12, a refugee from Ukraine at the humanitarian aid centre set up at the Global Expo exhibition hall in Warsaw, Poland. AFP
Sasha, 12, a refugee from Ukraine at the humanitarian aid centre set up at the Global Expo exhibition hall in Warsaw, Poland. AFP
Maksym and Andrii, 11-year-old boys, play with plastic guns at a self-made checkpoint along a motorway in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AP
Maksym and Andrii, 11-year-old boys, play with plastic guns at a self-made checkpoint along a motorway in the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. AP
A Ukrainian soldier nicknamed 'Oakland' guards his position at the front line in the Kharkiv region. AP
A Ukrainian soldier nicknamed 'Oakland' guards his position at the front line in the Kharkiv region. AP
Ukrainians look at destroyed Russian military equipment at an outdoor exhibition near the Church of the Three Saints in Kyiv. AFP
Ukrainians look at destroyed Russian military equipment at an outdoor exhibition near the Church of the Three Saints in Kyiv. AFP
A member of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) militia sits in a makeshift bunker near Avdiivka, in the Donbas region of Ukraine. EPA
A member of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) militia sits in a makeshift bunker near Avdiivka, in the Donbas region of Ukraine. EPA
A DPR militia member monitors a section of the road near Avdiivka. EPA
A DPR militia member monitors a section of the road near Avdiivka. EPA
Ukrainians pass a heavily damaged shopping mall in the city of Kherson. AFP
Ukrainians pass a heavily damaged shopping mall in the city of Kherson. AFP
The rubble of a house in Moshchun village, about 20 kilometres outside Kyiv. EPA
The rubble of a house in Moshchun village, about 20 kilometres outside Kyiv. EPA
A resident helps a firefighter put out a fire after an air strike in the town of Bakhmut, in the breakaway enclave of Donetsk. AFP
A resident helps a firefighter put out a fire after an air strike in the town of Bakhmut, in the breakaway enclave of Donetsk. AFP
A woman surveys the devastation caused by an air strike in Bakhmut. AFP
A woman surveys the devastation caused by an air strike in Bakhmut. AFP
Part of a projectile fire by a rocket launcher lies embedded in a wheat field in Ukraine's Kharkiv region. AFP
Part of a projectile fire by a rocket launcher lies embedded in a wheat field in Ukraine's Kharkiv region. AFP
Members of the public look at a Ukrainian tank destroyed in a Russian attack, in Hostomel, north-west of Kyiv. EPA
Members of the public look at a Ukrainian tank destroyed in a Russian attack, in Hostomel, north-west of Kyiv. EPA
Burnt out cars destroyed in Russian attacks are piled up in Hostomel. EPA
Burnt out cars destroyed in Russian attacks are piled up in Hostomel. EPA
Jill Biden, US first lady, left, and US President Joe Biden welcome the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, to the White House. EPA
Jill Biden, US first lady, left, and US President Joe Biden welcome the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, to the White House. EPA
Miami District Two commissioner Ken Russell, left, and Miami police chief Manuel Morales with weapons collected in the Guns 4 Ukraine initiative, at Miami City Hall in Florida. Guns bought back by Miami will be delivered to sister city Irpin, near Kyiv. EPA
Miami District Two commissioner Ken Russell, left, and Miami police chief Manuel Morales with weapons collected in the Guns 4 Ukraine initiative, at Miami City Hall in Florida. Guns bought back by Miami will be delivered to sister city Irpin, near Kyiv. EPA
A Ukrainian serviceman stands next to a Grad BM-21 multiple rocket launcher at the front line in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. AFP
A Ukrainian serviceman stands next to a Grad BM-21 multiple rocket launcher at the front line in Donbas, eastern Ukraine. AFP
A woman walks her dog in front of a block of flats hit by shelling in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. EPA
A woman walks her dog in front of a block of flats hit by shelling in Kramatorsk, Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine. EPA
A Kramatorsk resident peers out of a window lined with tape to reduce the impact of shattering glass. EPA
A Kramatorsk resident peers out of a window lined with tape to reduce the impact of shattering glass. EPA
The damaged windows of an apartment, after shells hit a residential area in Kramatorsk. EPA
The damaged windows of an apartment, after shells hit a residential area in Kramatorsk. EPA
Rescuers working on a residential building partially destroyed by missile strike in Bashtanka, Mykolaiv as the Russian war in Ukraine continues. AFP
Rescuers working on a residential building partially destroyed by missile strike in Bashtanka, Mykolaiv as the Russian war in Ukraine continues. AFP
An Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle lies by the roadside, having been destroyed by Russian forces in Ukraine. AFP
An Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle lies by the roadside, having been destroyed by Russian forces in Ukraine. AFP

Mr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday, as he accepted the Winston Churchill Leadership Award from Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, that Ukraine's allies needed to keep up the flow of weapons.

Military experts have said that Ukraine's formidable resistance since the invasion in February could still be worn down by Russian numerical superiority if the war grinds on.

"Perhaps for the first time in the history of mankind we are now able to show everyone in the world and for ages that democracies, united, can stop any tyranny, even if, at first, it seems that it has unlimited resources for aggression," Mr Zelenskyy said.

"That is why it is necessary to continue the supply of modern and effective weapons to our state in sufficient quantities to finally break the offensive potential of Russian tyranny."

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How Apple's credit card works

The Apple Card looks different from a traditional credit card — there's no number on the front and the users' name is etched in metal. The card expands the company's digital Apple Pay services, marrying the physical card to a virtual one and integrating both with the iPhone. Its attributes include quick sign-up, elimination of most fees, strong security protections and cash back.

What does it cost?

Apple says there are no fees associated with the card. That means no late fee, no annual fee, no international fee and no over-the-limit fees. It also said it aims to have among the lowest interest rates in the industry. Users must have an iPhone to use the card, which comes at a cost. But they will earn cash back on their purchases — 3 per cent on Apple purchases, 2 per cent on those with the virtual card and 1 per cent with the physical card. Apple says it is the only card to provide those rewards in real time, so that cash earned can be used immediately.

What will the interest rate be?

The card doesn't come out until summer but Apple has said that as of March, the variable annual percentage rate on the card could be anywhere from 13.24 per cent to 24.24 per cent based on creditworthiness. That's in line with the rest of the market, according to analysts

What about security? 

The physical card has no numbers so purchases are made with the embedded chip and the digital version lives in your Apple Wallet on your phone, where it's protected by fingerprints or facial recognition. That means that even if someone steals your phone, they won't be able to use the card to buy things.

Is it easy to use?

Apple says users will be able to sign up for the card in the Wallet app on their iPhone and begin using it almost immediately. It also tracks spending on the phone in a more user-friendly format, eliminating some of the gibberish that fills a traditional credit card statement. Plus it includes some budgeting tools, such as tracking spending and providing estimates of how much interest could be charged on a purchase to help people make an informed decision. 

* Associated Press 

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