OPINION: This week Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern denounced Russia over the atrocities discovered in Bucha, and promised more support for Ukraine.

That support included a second round of sanctions, looking at importation controls, and getting “our people supporting some of the efforts”.

That comes on top of our earlier donation of surplus military equipment; a total of 1066 body armour plates, 473 helmets and 571 camouflage vests. All very nice-sounding, but compared to what many other countries are doing, pitifully small, even mean.

Ukraine has been pleading for military support – it’s in the middle of a war – and desperately needs weapons to fight the hugely bigger and better-equipped Russian forces. In particular, it wants armoured vehicles, artillery, aircraft and anti-aircraft systems to stop the pounding of its civilians from besieging Russian forces for what it says will be a “World War II-scale” upcoming Battle of the Donbas. It’s expecting hundreds of Russian tanks redeployed from the Battle of Kiev to attack from the east within a few days.

But what could New Zealand send? Well, actually quite a lot. It has 105 armoured troop carriers, or light armoured vehichles (LAV3s). Back in 2020 Stuff reported that the New Zealand Defence Force was struggling to find a buyer for 30 of them that were surplus to requirements. My understanding is they are still unsold – the Defence Force will confirm only that there are “ongoing discussions around the sale”. Why not send them to Ukraine?

The LAVs are powerful eight-wheeled vehicles that would provide good protection to Ukrainian troops. They were used by our forces in Afghanistan and, according to the Defence Force, protected troops from bombs on several occasions. Described by the Defence Force as a “world-class vehicle capable of providing protected mobility to soldiers on the battlefield”, the LAV3 is “highly mobile, and comes equipped with a lethal arsenal of weapons and systems making it an ideal vehicle for combat, security and peace support operations”.

Just not ideal for Ukraine, apparently. The LAVs are light enough to be flown to Ukraine by the RNZAFs Hercules, though Australia is flying its Bushmasters to Poland on its much bigger Globemasters and could presumably be asked to help fly the LAVs over.

If we really wanted to be generous, we could send some of the other 75 LAVs we also bought back in 2003 for about $6 million each. They have hardly been overused. Apart from eight sent to Afghanistan, two were sent to support police in the Napier siege in 2009, two to the Kawerau siege in 2016, and some to police Christchurch after the 2011 quake.

New Zealand also has L119 105mm howitzers and Javelin anti-tank missiles; both needed by Ukraine.

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We would certainly not be out of line if we were more generous. Most European countries are sending significant amounts of military equipment – many of them smaller than us, and several right next to Russia and presumably worried about their own security.

According to US news site Politico, Denmark is sending 2700 anti-tank weapons and 300 anti-aircraft Stinger missiles. Tiny Estonia is sending howitzers and Javelins. Lithuania and Latvia are sending Stingers; Finland 1500 anti-tank weapons; Sweden 10,000 anti-tank weapons, Poland missiles and drones. So far, apparently only the UK and Australia are sending armoured vehicles; New Zealand could make a real difference here.

It would hardly be noticed by Russia in the long queue of countries lining up; but it would certainly be noticed and never forgotten by Ukrainians currently fighting from unarmoured cars and trucks.

I asked Defence Minister Peeni Henare​ on Tuesday whether the LAVs were still available, and would we send them. His office referred the first question to the Defence Force, and he did not directly answer the second, responding with this emailed quote:

“As the prime minister has indicated, New Zealand is continuing to build on our significant contribution to the global effort to support Ukraine against Russia’s invasion. The situation in Ukraine is changing rapidly and the type of support needed is evolving week to week, which is why Cabinet is assessing how we can make the most significant contribution on a regular basis.

“Our support to date has been comprehensive. It includes military intelligence, economic sanctions, humanitarian aid, providing visas for family members to shelter in New Zealand, support for criminal investigation in the International Criminal Court, through to the trade sanctions on Russian imports that the Government announced yesterday. All of it is support to assist the Ukrainian resistance to Russia’s invasion and atrocities, so we are not making a distinction between lethal and non-lethal support.

“In the prime minister’s communications with the Ukrainian leadership they have expressed their thanks for New Zealand’s swift and practical action.”

Henare’s Ukrainian counterpart, said this yesterday: “The situation remains extremely difficult. Especially in the south and east of our country. Russia is concentrating forces for a powerful attack ….

“First, we need air defence systems and combat aircraft to protect our citizens and our army from missiles and air strikes.

“Secondly, we need long-range weapons. These are Long-Range Artillery Missile complexes, MLRS and heavy artillery. This will keep the enemy at a distance without letting him into our cities.

“Third, we need tanks and armoured vehicles to break through the occupiers' defences and liberate the occupied territories.

“Fourth, we need anti-ship missiles. To destroy the enemy fleet and unblock ports on the Black Sea. After all, without ports we will not be able to trade, including food. Which will cause a global food crisis.

“Fifth, we need reconnaissance and strike drones.”

Could New Zealand do more? Make your own judgment.

Associate Professor James Hollings is programme leader of the journalism school at Massey University in Wellington.