A Czech OT-90 infantry fighting vehicle was spotted in the Ukrainian military's arsenal. Its distinctive feature is that it was created by mounting a machine gun turret from the OT-64 SKOT wheeled APC onto the chassis of the BVP-1, the Czechoslovak version of the BMP-1.
The vehicle spotted in Ukraine has additional armor, such as protective grilles on the sides. At the rear, the vehicle features a typical Ukrainian improvised "hood" designed to protect against drones. Another similar vehicle can be seen in the background.
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Regarding why an infantry fighting vehicle was converted into an armored personnel carrier, the reason is simple. In 1990, Czechoslovakia signed the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, which limited the number of IFVs.
To avoid scrapping the equipment, Czechoslovakia converted the BVP-1s into armored personnel carriers and various other specialized tracked variants. It is known that 620 armored vehicles underwent such modification. It is worth noting that the absence of 73-mm shells may improve survivability, considering the hull's thin armor.
After Czechoslovakia split, the armored vehicles were divided between the Czech Republic and Slovakia. It is likely that the OT-90s were transferred from these countries to Ukraine, possibly as part of military aid.
However, since these vehicles are not included in public lists of military aid, it is possible that they were also purchased from private companies. The option of transfer as part of aid is also quite likely.
In October 2017, a similar modernization of the BMP-1 and BMP-2, developed by NVO Praktika, was showcased at the Arms and Security exhibition. This project involved installing a new engine, new surveillance and communication equipment, mine protection, and raising the height of the vehicle's hull to increase interior space.
However, the video shows a vehicle of the usual BMP-1 size, indicating that the armored personnel carrier is definitely an OT-90. So, a notable armored vehicle has entered service with the Ukrainian Defense Forces, potentially becoming more survivable after the removal of its 73 mm cannon.
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