Russia's frontline mercenaries have hit back at Western tank threats by shipping in a new armoured killing machine dubbed The Wagner Wagon.
The “Mad Max” style fighting vehicle is mine-resistant and bristling with weaponry such as a 14.5mm heavy machine gun capable of hitting targets two miles away.
It also boasts two PKT 7.62mm belt-fed machine guns to be used during attacks on frontline infantry troops in relatively high- speed assaults.
But while it has been tested in Syria and Libya it is not as deadly as a tank and will be massively outmatched by UK Challenger II tanks being sent to the Ukraine frontline.
It comes as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Wednesday that the country would provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks and approve requests by other countries to do the same.
"This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability," Scholz said after a Cabinet meeting in Berlin.
Germany was "acting in close coordination" with its international allies, he added.
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg welcomed the announcement tweeting this morning: "At a critical moment in Russia’s war, these can help Ukraine to defend itself, win and prevail as an independent nation."
The long-awaited decision came after US officials said Tuesday that a preliminary agreement had been struck for the United States to send M1 Abrams tanks to help Ukraine's troops push back Russian forces that remain entrenched in the country's east almost a year after Russia invaded its neighbour.
Germany had faced criticism after weeks of hesitation that delayed supply to Ukraine’s forces of the crucial tanks by countries such as Poland as Berlin owns the export licence.
Once Ukraine is armed with Leopard 2 tanks it is believed they could support the 14 Challengers in launching a full-on assault on Russian troops.
It is widely feared Moscow is preparing a large-scale operation in the Spring to try and drive Ukrainian forces back, using armoured attack vehicles.
One UK security expert told the Daily Mirror: “Giving Ukraine the superior Leopard 2 tanks will be a game changer in the war as it will outmatch Moscow’s forces.
“High-mobility vehicles such as the so-called Wagner Wagons are one thing against jihadists in the deserts of Syria and Libya but will be hopeless against Leopards and Challenger tanks.
“They are only effective against infantry.”
It is believed Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing to mobilise hundreds of thousands of new recruits into the Ukrainian frontline within months.
Poland has officially requested permission from Germany to transfer its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine to help fight Russia's invasion, the Polish defence minister has said.
German officials confirmed to the DPA news agency that they had received the application and said it would be assessed "with due urgency.”
Foreign minister Annalena Baerbock claims Berlin, which builds the tanks, would not seek to stop Poland from providing the high-tech armour to Kyiv.
Polish defence minister Mariusz Blaszczak also appealed to Germany "to join the coalition of countries supporting Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks" before the nation confirmed it was today.
Mr Blaszcraz tweeted: “This is our common cause, because it is about the security of the whole of Europe!"
Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg also called for the speedy delivery of new weapons to Ukraine which is braced for a Russian Spring Offensive.
He said: "At this crucial moment in the war, we need to provide Ukraine with heavier and more advanced systems, and we need to do it faster.”
