Ukrainian military personnel receive armoured manoeuvre training on German-made Leopard 2 battle tanks at the Spanish army's training center of San Gregorio in Zaragoza on March 13, 2023. (PHOTO / AFP)

KYIV – Ukraine received the first batch of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Monday, citing German news outlet Der Spiegel.

The German-made tanks were handed over to Ukraine two months after Berlin's decision to supply them, the news agency said.

It did not specify the number of tanks that were transferred to Ukraine.

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Official data showed that Ukraine's industrial output plunged 36.9 percent in 2022

In January, Germany decided to supply its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and green-lighted requests by other countries to do so.

Media outlets reported that Germany intended to send 18 Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine.

On the same day, official data showed that Ukraine's industrial output plunged 36.9 percent in 2022.

Last year, Ukraine's processing industry saw the biggest decline, decreasing by 41.2 percent, the State Statistics Service said in a report.

The electric power, gas and steam supply industries contracted by 30.7 percent in 2022, while the mining industry dropped by 30.1 percent, according to the report.

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According to the statistics, production of electricity distribution and control apparatus was the only industrial branch that demonstrated positive performance last year, rising by 4.2 percent.

Local media said the sharp decline is attributed to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia. In 2021, Ukraine's industrial production increased by 1.9 percent.