The German government plans to provide Ukraine with additional air defence equipment to help protect grain shipments from Russian attacks, Bloomberg reports.
"Berlin will send one additional IRIS-T air defence system and more than a dozen Gepard anti-aircraft guns to provide cover for cargoes heading to Romania along the country's southern coast," the publication quoted anonymous sources as saying.
The weapons are expected to arrive in Ukraine by the end of this year. The next IRIS-T units will follow once they are built.
In his turn, German MP Markus Faber, who is a member of the defence committee in the lower house of parliament, confirmed that Ukraine will receive more IRIS-T systems and Gepard systems, as well as ammunition.
"Ukraine will use these units, for example, to better protect its grain ports," he said, but did not provide details.
The weapons received from Germany will be used to protect port infrastructure, grain loading on ships, and ships leaving for sea.