Poland's Minister of Defence Mariusz Blaszczak. Photo via Ministry of Defence of Poland

A service centre for the repair of Leopard 2 tanks donated to Ukraine will start operating in Poland, its defence minister said on Wednesday.

"I have worked hard to create a service and repair centre for the entire family of Leopard 2 tanks here in [the city of] Hlivice at [the enterprise] Bumar-Łabędy," Mariusz Blaszczak said as he visited a local defence enterprise.

The defence enterprise in Hlivice. Photo via Ministry of Defence of Poland

Mr Blaszczak said that he had signed an agreement with his German and Ukrainian counterparts at the recent meeting of the Ukraine defence contact group in Germany.

The service centre will start operating next month according to the agreement, he added.

The defence enterprise in Hlivice. Photo via Ministry of Defence of Poland

Two divisions of Leopard 2 tanks that have arrived or will soon arrive in Ukraine will be serviced and repaired at Bumar-Łabędy, Mr Blaszczak said.

The defence enterprise in Hlivice. Photo via Ministry of Defence of Poland
The defence enterprise in Hlivice. Photo via Ministry of Defence of Poland

The defence enterprise is known to also produce 155 mm Crab self-propelled howitzers.

Earlier this month, Rheinmetall, a German arms manufacturer, was reported to be building a logistics centre in Romania to repair and maintain tanks and self-propelled artillery systems supplied by Western countries to Ukraine.