The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) has enthusiastically welcomed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s announcement of 30 additional Bushmasters for Ukraine.
“We are delighted that the Prime Minister has committed to providing Ukraine with an additional 30 Bushmasters,” said the AFUO Co-Chairs Mr Stefan Romamiw OAM and Ms Kateryna Argyrou.
“Our community has been in dialogue with the Australian Government about providing more Bushmasters, given how valuable they are in our fight.
These Bendigo-built vehicles have been hugely successful and effective on the frontlines, and have saved countless lives. They provide protection for Ukrainian defenders as they retrieve the wounded from the front line, deliver food and water, and move troops around.“
“They have become justifiably famous in Ukraine. Family members and friends we speak to in Ukraine all know about the Bushmasters and are deeply grateful that Australians want to help Ukraine restore peace and push back Russian aggression,” they added.
Watch the below video to hear interviews about the Bushmasters conducted with defenders on the Ukrainian front line, by the AFUO’s Julian Knysh, currently based in Kyiv.
Speaking about the Bushmasters, one of the Ukrainian defender’s reflects, “There were missions when we actually lived in here. I slept here. The commander slept here. It’s like a full fledged house.”
Read the Prime Minister’s release here