The German defense concern Rheinmetall plans to start servicing tanks in Ukraine in the coming days.
This was stated in an interview with the Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung by the company's CEO Armin Papperger.
— We will start service this month, — he said.
According to the general director, the first 12 employees of the plant, which will work in Ukraine, have begun training in Germany, and 12 more will join them later.
Papperger also confirmed the intention to start production of tanks on the territory of our state as soon as possible.
He believes that this can happen quickly, since there are quite well-equipped Soviet-era armored enterprises in Ukraine. Rheinmetall wants to lease them and then produce equipment to NATO standards on one or two production lines.
— We want to establish production at local facilities, since Ukraine will eventually have to become independent in the production of weapons, & # 8212; said the concern's general director.
In July, Papperger announced that Rheinmetall would open a plant for the production of armored vehicles in Ukraine.
The plant will produce and repair Fuchs armored personnel carriers, as well as train Ukrainians to service them. It will be located in the western part of the country.
