Japan Sends More Military Vehicles to Ukraine
Japan has shipped another batch of military vehicles to Ukraine, adding 30 more units as part of its ongoing support program for the country’s defense efforts amid the Russian invasion.
The delivery includes 28 light trucks and two high-mobility vehicles, which follows earlier shipments of 101 vehicles in June 2024 and six in February 2025.
Kyiv also accepted separate military aid of unnamed vehicles in January 2024, potentially part of Tokyo’s commitment of up to 100 vehicles to the war-torn country that was announced in 2023.
Building Mobility, Staying Within Peace Limits
Japan’s assistance remains focused on non-lethal aid in line with its pacifist constitution, which bars the export of weapons and combat capabilities.
Local sources in Ukraine said the vehicles are set to assist Kyiv’s forces in transporting troops and supplies more easily across rough terrain and during long operations.
Tokyo also supplied helmets, body armor, gas masks, and surveillance drones, and took part in international coalitions supporting demining, personnel training, and digital infrastructure in Ukraine.
Wider Partnership
Beyond military aid, Japan has pledged 8.8 billion yen ($58.2 million) to help rebuild Ukrainian infrastructure under a grant agreement announced earlier this year by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.
Tokyo is also deepening ties with NATO partners and has expressed interest in joining the alliance’s Ukraine coordination mission in Germany, with Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani discussing the plan with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in April.
In September, the East Asian government revealed plans to close all six branches of the Japan Center for Trade and Economic Development in Russia, underscoring its opposition to Moscow’s invasion.
