Japan Self-Defense Forces personnel load defense equipment aboard a transport aircraft on Tuesday night at the Air Self-Defense Force’s Komaki Base. (Japan News-Yomiuri)

TOKYO — Japan dispatched an Air Self-Defense Force KC-767 transport aircraft to Poland on Tuesday night, to provide bulletproof vests and other SDF equipment to Ukraine.

To support the embattled country, which has been fighting invading Russian forces, the provision of defense equipment was officially approved at National Security Council ministerial meetings earlier in the day.

The equipment included bulletproof vests, helmets and cold-weather clothing.

The operational guidelines for the Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology were revised to allow the provision of bulletproof vests.