Australia’s Bushmaster combat vehicles have been filmed in action by Ukrainian troops defending their homeland against Russia‘s invasion.
Scott Morrison sent 20 of the armored transport vehicles to Ukraine as part of military support package alongside Western allies.
A video posted on Twitter appears to show Ukrainian troops traveling in a Bushmaster with a Ukrainian flag painted on the outside.
The footage emerged after Australia announced on Wednesday it would also send six howitzer artillery guns (pictured in Afghanistan) to Ukraine
The clip shows troops riding on the top with mounted guns and also driving the vehicle.
The Bushmaster, nicknamed ‘The Bushy’, is an 11-tonne armored military vehicle designed to carry and deploy up to 10 soldiers to the battlefield.
The four-wheel-drive vehicles are built to withstand any environment and protect troops from bomb blasts, and were widely used by the Australian Defense Force during the conflict in Afghanistan.
The footage emerged after Australia announced on Wednesday it would also send six howitzer artillery guns to Ukraine.
The $26.7million in new support takes Australia’s military aid for Ukraine to over $225 million.
The first Bushmaster PMV is loaded into a C-17 Globemaster aircraft headed for Ukraine on April 8
Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko thanks Major General Scott Winter after Australia announced $50million worth of military vehicles will be sent to Ukraine
Australia was one of the first countries to provide combat vehicle support to Ukraine (pictured is a vehicle being repainted)
Bushmaster vehicles are fitted with radios, a global positioning system and additional bolt-on armour, along with protection against mines, artillery shrapnel and small arms fire.
‘Australia may be thousands of kilometers away but we’re standing side by side with Ukraine against this illegal invasion with arms, equipment, aid and even energy sources,’ Prime Minister Scott Morrison said when he sent the vehicles.
‘Once again Ukraine has asked for our help and once again we have stepped up.
‘Our Australian-designed and made Bushmasters are known around the world for their usefulness in a combat zone and they will help boost Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s unprovoked and illegal violence.
‘This fight is important because not only are Ukrainian lives and their lands at stake, but so are the principles of freedom and the rule of law.’
Two ambulatory vehicles (one pictured on Friday) are among 20 retired Bushmaster PMVs which were repainted and refitted to be used in the Ukraine
Defense Minister Peter Dutton, Ukraine Ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko and Major General Scott Winter checked out the first convoy of Bushmaster PMVs now on their to the Ukraine
The military support is the result of a request from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy after he addressed federal parliament last month.
The retired Bushmasters previously been used by Australian forces in Iraq, Afghanistan and disaster zones at home.
‘It is one of the world leading vehicles and it provides protection to the crew that are onboard that,’ defense minister Peter Dutton said.
‘It will be a big win for the Ukrainian forces in their attempts to stare down the barbaric efforts of the Russian forces.’
Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24. Ukraine managed to hold back the invaders against all odds. Fighting is now concentrated in the east of the country.
Meanwhile, Mr Morrison and more than 200 other Australian officials have been banned from entering Russia.
The combat vehicles (pictured being refitted) will provide support to Ukraine in its ongoing war with Russia
The first of the armored vehicles will make their way from Brisbane RAAF Base Amberley to Ukraine on Friday
The ban is in response to foreign minister Marise Payne declared Australia will take action against 67 elites linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin in a new round of sanctions.
Mr Dutton said Australia will continue to stand with Ukraine again tyranny and autocrats.
‘People have fought and died for the freedoms that we have in our country. We need to realise we just can’t take for granted what we have – our system of democracy and freedom of speech,’ he said.
‘These are values that dictators like Putin and Hitler and others will always be against. We need to stand up against them.’
What’s so special about the famed Bushmasters that even Americans are jealous of?
The Bushmaster, nicknamed ‘The Bushy’, is an 11-tonne armored military vehicle designed to carry and deploy up to 10 soldiers on to the battlefield.
The four-wheel-drive vehicles are built to withstand any environment and protect troops from bomb blasts, and were widely used by the Australian Defense Force during the conflict in Afghanistan.
The Bushmaster can carry mortars and other heavier weapons, and can also be equipped with machine guns and other military equipment.
It can also carry enough fuel and supplies to operate for three days without resupply and has a central tire inflation system allowing it to function with punctures.
The vehicle’s design means it can serve a variety of roles, including as an ambulance, giving it a fierce reputation amongst Coalition forces in the Middle East with even American troops praising the vehicles.
The Bushmaster (pictured) is an 11-tonne armored military vehicle designed to carry and deploy up to ten soldiers onto the battlefield
The vehicle’s design means it can serve a variety of other roles, including as an ambulance (pictured, Bushmaster armored vehicle’s prepare for deployment to assist flooded communities in March 2022)
Mr Morrison has not revealed how many Bushmasters he will ship off or when they will head to Ukraine.
‘We are not just sending our prayers, we are sending our guns, ammunitions, humanitarian aid, all of this, our body armour, all of these things,’ he said.
‘We will send out armored vehicles, Bushmasters as well and we will fly them over there in our C-17s to make sure they can be there to support.’
Mr Zelensky addressed the Australian parliament on Thursday, warning Russian aggression posed a direct threat to Australia and asking for tanks.
‘You have very good armored vehicles, Bushmasters, that could help Ukraine substantially, and other pieces of equipment could strengthen our position in terms of armaments,’ he told the parliament.
‘If you have an opportunity to share these with us, we would be very grateful. In Ukraine, they will do much more for our common freedom and common security than staying parked on your land.’
Australia will send Bushmasters (pictured) to Ukraine following a request by the war-torn nation’s president Volodymyr Zelensky
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