Ukrainian tankers to begin training on Leopard 2 in Germany next week - Spiegel

That's according to the Spiegel media outlet, an Ukrinform correspondent report.

"The Bundeswehr will start training Ukrainian crews on the Leopard 2 main battle tank next week. According to Spiegel, the Air Force has already brought the first groups of Ukrainian soldiers with military vehicles from Poland to Germany in the past few days. In the middle of next week, Leopard training will start at the Munster military training area in Lower Saxony, where Ukrainian units are already being trained on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle," the article reads.

According to the report, the Bundeswehr is planning a kind of turbo course for the Ukrainian soldiers, some of whom have come directly from the front line near the city of Bakhmut.

"In just six to eight weeks, they should learn the basics of operating the complex weapon system and interaction with Leopard battle tanks. The use of the Marder infantry fighting vehicle should also be practiced," Spiegel said.

Due to the lack of time, only the basics can be taught, whereas a full-fledged training program takes several years.

"If everything goes according to plan, the trained soldiers should return to the front lines in Ukraine together with the Leopard battle tanks by the end of March," Spiegel wrote.

Earlier reports said that Western partners had reached an agreement on the transfer of main battle tanks to Ukraine.