Australian Bushmasters’ role in Ukraine’s ‘miracle’ pushback

Australia has played a major role in Ukraine’s recent victories in its bloody battle with Russia – but will we answer the latest calls for help?

Ukraine has asked Australia for more Bushmaster armoured vehicles after the vehicles proved their worth in the recent liberation of parts of the Kharkiv region.

Acting Prime Minister and Defence Minister Richard Marles today confirmed the government will consider the latest request.

Acting PM Richard Marles has concerned Australia will consider Ukraine’s request for more Bushmaster armoured vehicles. Picture: Martin Ollman

The Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Myroshnychenko recently requested another 30 Bushmaster vehicles, which would bring the total to 90 committed since fighting began in February.

“Ninety would be three different battalions, in battalions of 30,” he told the ABC.

“Obviously, the Bushmasters that we’ve already provided to Ukraine are having a really significant impact on the conflict in Ukraine – And it’s very much helping Ukraine in the efforts that they are engaged in to resist this Russian aggression,” Mr Marles said in response.

“We are aware of the requests that Ukraine has made of us, will obviously consider them.”

“We get that Ukraine needs to be supported over the long term. I’ve spoken with the Ukrainian ambassador, I’ve spoken with Oleksii Reznikov, my counterpart, the Defence Minister in Ukraine; we will continue to work out ways in which Australia can support Ukraine in an ongoing way.”

Australian Army Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles have played a major role in Ukraine

So far Australia has committed to provide Ukraine with 60 Bushmasters, 14 M113AS4 armoured personnel carriers, six M777 howitzers and a total of $388 million in military assistance.

Bushmaster, (genus Lachesis), an Amazonian venomous snake subdued by our soldiers that stings the enemy unexpectedly, painfully, and fatally. Thanks to our Australian wizards for the instruction manual. @[e-mail]/AIQkorskV5

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) September 12, 2022

When asked how many of the 60 Bushmasters has made it to Ukraine so far, a Defence spokesperson told news.com.au: “Due to operational security, Defence will not confirm exact dates as to when the vehicles will depart or be delivered into Ukraine or the exact numbers delivered at this time.”

60 Bushmasters have been pledged to Ukraine for the war efforts against Russia.

“The Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicles and M113AS4 Armoured Vehicles are being modified from our existing fleet and are transported to Ukraine when modifications are completed,” the spokesperson said.

Bushmasters behind recent Ukraine exploits

Soldiers on the front line of the Ukrainian offensive have thanked Australia for providing Bushmasters military vehicles, which have played a huge role in the recent liberation of the city of Kharkiv.

The troops claim the Australian-built four-wheel drive armoured vehicles have helped in their highly-successful counter-attack against the invading Russians.

“Bushmaster, (genus Lachesis), an Amazonian venomous snake subdued by our soldiers that stings the enemy unexpectedly, painfully, and fatally. Thanks to our Australian wizards for the instruction manual,” Defence of Ukraine wrote on Twitter.

Soldiers on the front line of the current Ukrainian offensive have thanked Australia for providing Bushmasters, which have played a huge role in the recent liberation of Kharkiv. Picture: Defence of Ukraine

A video showed an English-speaking Ukrainian officer surrounded by five battle-weary soldiers.

The Ukrainian officer outlined what the Bushmaster had meant for the forces and the role it played in the recent offensive in the Kharkiv region in northeast Ukraine.

“The Bushmaster armoured personnel carrier is used by the Airborne Forces of Ukraine to reach forward operating areas,” he explained.

“We’re grateful to the people and government of Australia for providing these to us.

“They were a great asset to us in liberating the areas around Kharkiv. Together we’re working towards a victory.”

#Ukraine: The first verified loss of a Ukrainian Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle (with a EOS R400-Mk2 remote weapon station), donated by Australia.
This one was recently destroyed by the Russian forces in Trypillia, #Donetsk and #Luhansk oblast border. pic.twitter.com/wZ0iccKfHT

— 🇺🇦 Ukraine Weapons Tracker (@UAWeapons) May 28, 2022

A Ukrainian soldier and Bushmaster driver, Vitaly, in June told the Sydney Morning Herald of his experience behind the wheel.

“First of all, it’s very comfortable. It has airconditioning, it’s like a house on wheels. I would have lived inside. I stay in it all the time,” he said.

So far one Australian Bushmaster has been reportedly been destroyed in the fighting, with footage showing a burnt-out vehicle on the side of a road near Trypillia.

Bendigo-built and battle ready

Bushmasters are build by defence contractor Thales Australia in Bendigo.

The military asset, described by Thames Group as a “combat proven multi-role protected vehicle”, is is a 15-tonne, 7.1 metre long, four-wheel-drive protected vehicle with a four-tonne payload.

It’s designed to protect up to 10 occupants from “high level” of blast and ballistic protection with excellent off-road mobility.

The first Bushmasters, built in Bendigo, entered service in 2005.

Bushmasters are modified at Thales’ factory in Brisbane before ,they are sent to Ukraine to help in the war effort. Photo: Thales Australia

With a top speed of 110 km/h, a test drive review from Drive magazine writer Tony Davis described the vehicles off-road ability.

“We are heading for what is known, with appropriate irony, as the ‘kindy circuit’. This tight collection of near vertical hills, spirelike crests, muddy ditches and water crossings would be hard work in most serious 4WDs. The Bushmaster just eats it up,” he wrote.

The price tag of the Bushmaster per unit has not been officially released and estimated costs vary from $500,000 and $2.5 million with Australia in possession of about 1000.

Australia’s Ukraine support

Australia was quick to condemn Russia shortly after its invasion of Ukraine in February.

Minister for Foreign Affairs at the time, Senator Marise Payne, said of Russia’s Invasion: “This flagrantly undermines Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and has no validity under international law,” she said.

Peter Dutton, defence Minister at the time labelled the invasion “brutal, unrelenting, illegal”.

Her successor, current Defence Minister Richard Marles, backed the calls.

“Australia and the United Kingdom live in an increasingly uncertain world where events in one region can have devastating effects across the globe,” he said earlier this month.

“We need look no further than Russia’s ongoing, unjustified aggression against Ukraine for proof of this.”

“The use of aggressive military force to coerce and invade neighbouring nations cannot be tolerated in the modern world.

“Only by ensuring such tactics fail in Ukraine can we deter their future employment elsewhere.”

The Australian Government has since coordinated with the United States, United Kingdom, European Union and others to penalise Russia’s aggression through sanctions and military aid.

As well as bolstering the Ukrainian armed forces with $388m in military aid, Australia has so far given a further $65 million in humanitarian assistance, 70,000 tonnes of thermal coal (worth $32.6 million), $8.7 million to assist Ukraine’s Border Guard Service, among others.

As well as the aid for Ukraine, the Australian government has jumped on board with a raft of measures aimed at holding “Russia accountable for its actions”.

The Government will consider whether it can provide more Bushmasters to Ukraine.

Australia has so far imposed targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on 843 individuals and 62 entities to inflict heavy cost on those responsible, banned the import of Russian oil, petroleum, coal and gas, banned the export of alumina, bauxite and luxury goods to Russia and introduced an additional tariff of 35 per cent on imports from Russia and Belarus.

Australia has also prohibited the import of Russian gold to cut off Russia’s ability to fund its war.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officially views the conflict as a “gross violation of international law, including the UN Charter.”