Norway to send 8 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine

OSLO (Reuters) - Norway will send eight German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks and other equipment to Ukraine to aid in the war with Russia, the NATO country's government said on Tuesday.

"It is more crucial than ever to support Ukraine's fight for freedom," Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said in a statement.

Norway said it will also send four special purpose tanks from its armoured engineering and bridge layer category, with the exact selection depending on what Ukraine needs the most.

Norway will also set aside funds for ammunition and spare parts, the defence ministry said.

Norway, which shares a border with Russia in the Arctic, has 36 Leopard 2 tanks in total.

(Reporting by Nora Buli, editing by Terje Solsvik)