New Zealand to deliver Hercules aircraft, personnel to Europe to aid Ukraine
A Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130 Hercules carrying aid supplies leaves for Tonga from Base Auckland Whenuapai in Auckland, New Zealand, Jan. 20, 2022. The aircraft carried humanitarian aid and disaster relief supplies, including water containers, kits for temporary shelters, generators, hygiene and family kits, and communications equipment. (NZDF/Handout via Xinhua)
A statement from the New Zealand government said Monday that New Zealand will deploy a C-130H Hercules transport aircraft and 50 support personnel to Europe on Wednesday for two months.
CNN reports that the team will travel throughout Europe transporting equipment and supplies to distribution centers for Ukraine but will not enter the country itself, the statement added.
According to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s aid “is to assist the Ukraine Army to repel a brutal Russian invasion because peace in the region of Europe is essential for global stability.”
“Such a blatant attack on a country’s sovereignty is a threat to all of us and that’s why we too have a role to play,” she stated.
Furthermore, New Zealand is donating $8.8 million (NZ$13 million) in further support to help Ukraine procure equipment for its military via the United Kingdom, the statement added.
