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The Commonwealth government is fulfilling its pledge to deliver lethal and non-lethal military equipment to Ukraine.
A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III has unloaded the second tranche of military supplies to Ukraine as part of Australia’s commitment to supporting the nation’s resistance against Russia’s invasion.
The cargo reportedly included both lethal and non-lethal military equipment, ranging from missiles and ammunition to medical supplies.
Details regarding the nature and quantity of Australia’s arms contribution have not been disclosed.
This marks the second delivery from a C-17A Globemaster III, with the first load departing RAAF Base Richmond for Europe on 2 March 2022.
The Commonwealth government has committed to working with NATO and other international partners to co-ordinate assistance to Ukraine.
In total, Prime Minister Scott Morrison pledged $70 million in financial assistance for military equipment, including a US$3 million ($4.1 million) contribution to NATO’s Trust Fund for Ukraine.
The assistance is in addition to sanctions imposed on Russia to hold President Vladimir Putin and his government to account for the invasion.
Targeted financial sanctions and travel bans have been imposed on President Putin, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Sergey Shoigu, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin and Internal Affairs Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev.
Restrictions have also been imposed on more than 350 Russian individuals, MPs and military commanders supporting the invasion.
Sanctions have also been introduced against 13 Belarusian individuals and entities, including Belarusian Minister of Defence Viktor Khrenin, accused of aiding and abetting the invasion by allowing Russia to launch attacks from Belarus.
Further, upon the invasion of Ukraine, Australia joined the European Commission, France, Germany, Italy, the UK, Canada, and the US in backing restrictive economic measures against key Russian banks, institutions and individuals.
These measures include:
- Removal of selected Russian banks from the SWIFT global payments messaging system;
- Restrictive measures to prevent the Russian Central Bank from using its international reserves in a way that undermines sanctions;
- Limiting so-called golden passports for wealthy Russians connected to the Russian government; and
- A trans-Atlantic task force to identify and freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals and companies that exist within their jurisdictions.
[Related: Australia to deliver military equipment to Ukraine]
