Since the beginning of the Russian Federation’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February this year, more and more soldiers want to retire from their service in the German Bundeswehr.

European Pravda reported this referencing Spiegel.

The German publication writes that between January and June 2nd, 533 people applied to the Federal Office of Family Affairs and Civil Society requesting to be removed from the service.

According to official information, this is twice as many as last year, when only 209 such applications were received.

528 of these applications came from active servicemen or reservists of the German Armed Forces.

The media emphasizes that those refusing to serve often justify their appeals with the fact that “they did not expect a military conflict.”

The publication states that all German servicemen refusing military service may refer to their status of a person refusing military service in case of conscription renewal or in cases of a tense defensive situation.

Recently, Germany and the Netherlands handed over 12 pledged Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht stated that fully prepared crews arrived in Ukraine along with the ACS.

Thus, the Defense Forces of Ukraine were replenished with a full-fledged self-propelled artillery howitzer division armed with modern ACS.

Panzerhaubitze 2000 is a German self-propelled artillery howitzer with an automatic loading system and a high level of automation of all systems.

It uses NATO-standard separate-loading rounds and is equipped with a muzzle brake and an ejector. The gun barrel with a rifled channel has a length of 52 calibers and is equipped with a charging chamber. The vehicle carries 60 artillery shells and 228 propellants on board. The range of firing standard ammunition is 30 km.