Against the backdrop of the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukraine became the world’s third largest importer of weapons last year.

Such conclusions were reached in a study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).

This is owed to the military assistance provided to Ukraine by the United States and other Western countries.

It is noted that from 1991 to the end of 2021, Ukraine imported a small number of major weapons.

“As a result of military aid from the USA and many European states following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukraine became the 3rd biggest importer of major arms during 2022 (after Qatar and India) and the 14th biggest for 2018–22,” the study says.

According to SIPRI, Ukraine accounted for only 2.0% of the world’s arms imports in a five-year period.

It should be reminded that in March Ukraine would receive 21 Leopard 2 tanks in the A6 variant. According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, 18 tanks will be delivered from Germany, and another 3 from Portugal.

Besides, OTO Melara M109L self-propelled howitzers have arrived in Ukraine. Photos of this weapon were published on social media.

In the spring, the first batch of Leopard 1 tanks will be supplied to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Ukraine will receive Leopard 1 within the framework of the Danish-German-Dutch project on transferring tanks to Ukraine.

In January, it became known that the UK government would give Ukraine 14 Challenger 2 tanks. Ukrainian crews are already being trained on this combat equipment.

Under the same package of assistance, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are to receive 100 armored vehicles, including Bullet tracked APCs, a battery with 8 AS-90 155mm self-propelled guns (two more batteries will be provided later).