Ukraine has officially received the final batch of the Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers from Latvia. The transfer ceremony took place at the Ādaži military base near Riga, attended by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Latvian Defense Minister Andris Spruds.
During the ceremony, Denys Shmyhal expressed gratitude to the Latvian government and the people of Latvia for their consistent support of Ukraine. He emphasized that the newly delivered armored vehicles will soon be handed over to Ukraine's Special Operations Forces, further strengthening their mobility and protection on the battlefield.
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With this shipment, Latvia has completed the transfer of all 42 promised Patria 6x6 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. The delivery was carried out in three batches: the first in July, the second in September, and the final one in November. Earlier reports indicated that the first vehicles were assigned to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.
The speed of delivery stands out as particularly impressive. Only about three months passed between the handover of the first and last batches. Considering production and transport times, Latvia managed to complete the entire transfer of 42 vehicles in less than a year.
Latvia's ability to meet such deadlines is even more remarkable given that its production rate for the Patria armored vehicles had previously been estimated at around 30 units per year. For comparison, it took the Latvian army three years from signing its own contract to producing and receiving its first domestically built Patria vehicles.
Latvia supplied the vehicles in a basic configuration, armed with heavy machine guns. However, discussions continue about how Ukraine might further equip or modify the Patria 6x6 units to meet its operational needs, including potential installations of additional weapon stations or advanced protection systems.
The completion of this delivery demonstrates Latvia's strong commitment to supporting Ukraine's defense and underlines the growing cooperation between NATO allies and Kyiv. The Patria 6x6s will now serve in some of Ukraine's most capable and flexible units, those of the Special Operations Forces, enhancing their ability to conduct fast, protected, and decisive missions.
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