The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has approved the deployment of Italian Puma armored personnel carriers (APCs) within its military forces. According to the ministry, these APCs have undergone the necessary codification process, allowing their acquisition using state budget funds.
Interestingly, no official announcement has been made by any country indicating that the aid packages to Ukraine included Puma wheeled armored vehicles. However, these vehicles are known to be in service with the armed forces of Italy, Pakistan, Libya, and Djibouti. It is believed that the delivery of Puma APCs to Ukraine was part of one of the classified defense aid packages from the Italian government.
Various versions of the Puma APC have been developed, including command and control vehicles, reconnaissance vehicles, vehicles equipped with anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems, 81 mm mortar carriers, medevac APCs, and CBRN monitoring vehicles.
The Puma 6×6 is an armored personnel carrier developed by the Italian consortium Iveco-Oto Melara. This vehicle is designed to provide optimal protection and mobility on the battlefield. It is equipped with a 7.62 mm or 12.7 mm machine gun, providing effective fire support against light threats and medium-sized targets.