After Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, made a request for much-needed military aid during a speech to the Australian Parliament on Friday, Australia announced it would send armoured vehicles to the country.
Zelenskyy told parliamentarians via video link on Thursday that anyone "against evil" must be armed.
He requested them to send Bushmaster armoured personnel carriers manufactured by Thales, a French company, to Bendigo, Victoria.
They're designed to transport up to ten personnel safely through combat zones. They offer high levels of ballistic protection and a V-shaped floor that disperses the blast of explosive devices more effectively than a flat floor.
Defense Minister Peter Dutton announced on Friday that preparations for the delivery are underway, however Australian officials have yet to disclose how many vehicles will be deployed or when they will arrive.
"We're working on logistics right now to get the Bushmasters there in the numbers they require," he said. "Even on one of the big planes, you're probably only going to be able to fit three, maybe four people."
"Normally, we would load them onto a ship and let them sail, but I don't believe we have those kinds of schedules. As a result, we are really receptive to the suggestion."
"Russia's ruthless, unlawful, and illegitimate invasion" of Ukraine has been slammed by Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
Australia has previously dispatched missiles and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which has been at odds with Russia for nearly a month.
Hundreds of Russian politicians, military officers, and entrepreneurs have been sanctioned by Canberra. Imports from Russia and Belarus will now be subject to a 35 percent tariff.
"The largest ever implementation of sanctions by Australia against a single country," Morrison said.
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