Ukraine War Live Update +++ 15:47 Rheinmetall rolls out 20 Ermine buggies for Ukrainian forces
Rheinmetall constructed twenty military vehicles destined for the Ukrainian military force.
German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall has announced it will manufacture 20 "Hermelin" vehicles for Ukrainian troops, made possible with funding from the Dutch Ministry of Defence. The deal for the new generation of Ermine vehicles marks the first overseas delivery of the advanced version of these buggies, designed for transporting wounded soldiers in combat zones 1.
These versatile Hermelin vehicles, currently comprising an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a side-by-side buggy, and a quad, offer a potential payload capacity of up to one ton, a range of over 1000 kilometers, and a top speed of 90 km/h 3.
- German defense company Rheinmetall to provide Ukraine with 20 advanced Hermelin vehicles
- The contract is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defence, valued at an unknown sum
- The vehicles, equipped with manned and unmanned versions, will aid in transporting wounded soldiers amid combat
- Hermelin vehicles feature a range of over 1000 kilometers with a top speed of 90 km/h 3
More Poles oppose NATO and EU membership for Ukraine than support
With a recent survey by Poland's IBRiS polling portal for Defence24, more Poles revealed opposing Ukraine joining both the European Union (EU) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) than supporting it 2.
- 35% of Poles favor Ukraine joining the EU
- 42% oppose Ukraine's NATO membership
- 37% support Ukraine's entry into NATO
- Economic competition, corruption in Ukraine, and fear of escalating war cited as reasons for negative sentiment 2
Ukrainian military reports slowed Russian advance in Sumy region
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Olexander Syrskyj, has declared that the advance of Russian troops in the border area of the Sumy region, northeast of Ukraine, has been stopped since this week and the contact line has been stabilized 4.
Slovakia threatens veto against Russia sanctions
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has threatened to veto the planned 18th EU sanctions package against Russia due to provisions completely exiting from gas supply contracts with Russia provided for as of January 1, 2028 5.
- Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban does not object to supporting Ukraine
- Slovakia and other EU nations concerned about harm to their economies from exiting Russian gas supplies 5
Ukrainian army chief demands quicker expansion of defense lines in Sumy
Oleksandr Syrskyj, the Ukrainian army chief, has emphasized the importance of swiftly expanding the defense lines in the Sumy region. He cited modern warfare's demands as the reason for the urgent need for speedier work 6.
- Requirements for antilkamikaze corridors – common in the form of physical barriers like nets – to safeguard Ukrainian troops and logistics routes
- Expansion efforts deemed as urgent in Sumy
Trump claims Russia won't attack as long as he's in office
According to an anonymous source close to three European leaders who attended the NATO summit in The Hague, US President Donald Trump has assured NATO countries that Russia will not attack while he remains in office 7.
North Korea may send troops to Russia for offensive in Ukraine
South Korean lawmakers have reported, following a closed-door briefing by the intelligence agency NIS, that North Korea might dispatch additional troops to Russia for a new offensive in the war against Ukraine. These troops could reportedly be deployed as early as July or August 8.
Ukrainian forces claim to have stopped Russian offensive in Sumy region
Ukrainian troops have reportedly thwarted the Russian offensive in the Sumy region, in northeast Ukraine. This is based on the defenses set up by Ukrainian forces along the contact line, as per a statement by Commander-in-Chief Olexander Syrskyj on Telegram 9.
More details on Rheinmetall's Hermelin vehicles for Ukraine
The Hermelin family of vehicles from Rheinmetall will consist of an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), a side-by-side buggy, and a quad that can be adapted for specific operational scenarios. These vehicles are typically outfitted with advanced technology such as ballistic protection, autonomous navigation, and sensors for navigation, detection, and communication. Milrem Robotics, an Estonian provider of unmanned ground vehicles, has also teamed up with Rheinmetall to provide its THeMIS robotics solution for the unmanned Hermelin variant 10.
- Hermelin family: an unmanned ground vehicle (UGV), side-by-side buggy, and quad
- Vehicles often equipped with ballistic protection, autonomous navigation, and advanced sensors
- Partnership between Rheinmetall and Milrem Robotics to develop Hermelin UGV technology
Current Ukraine Conflict
The current conflict in Ukraine is a complex geopolitical issue involving wide-ranging military, economic, and political implications. This ongoing conflict has roots in the annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation in 2014 and the onset of the Donbas War in eastern Ukraine, which has caused thousands of casualties and displaced numerous civilians. The conflict has sparked international condemnation, widespread sanctions against Russia, and intensified tensions between Russia and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
NATO Summit in The Hague
Russian Attacks on Ukraine
War Crimes in Ukraine
Sources
- ntv.de
- defense24.pl
- twitter.com
- eunews.europa.eu
- defense-blog.com
- japantoday.com
- thekrim-khwalida.com
- washingtonpost.com
- milremrobotics.com
- en.wikipedia.org
- The employment policy of German defense conglomerate Rheinmetall might need to accommodate the manufacturing of 20 Hermelin vehicles for the Ukrainian forces, potentially influencing their payroll, hiring practices, and division of labor.
- The delivery of these advanced Hermelin vehicles to the Ukrainian troops marks a significant development in war-and-conflicts politics, as they are designed for transporting wounded soldiers amid combat zones and have been funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defence.
