During the full-scale war of the russian federation against Ukraine, Slovenia supplies Ukraine with rather exotic weapons that are currently used by the Defense Forces of Ukraine. For instance, we earlier reported that in addition to M-55S tanks and M-80A infantry fighting vehicles, Slovenia could also provide Ukraine with 200 Zastava anti-aircraft guns against the Shahed drones, as well as other weapons and ammunition.
However, it turned out that in early 2024, Slovenia also supplied Ukraine with a batch of Yugoslav-made BOV armoured personnel carriers. They are similar to the Soviet BRDM-2 amphibious armoured scout cars.
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According to 24ur, Slovenia has handed over 20 BOV armored vehicles with 12.7 mm machine guns and three such armored vehicles with three-barreled M55 Zastava anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine.
24ur was the first to report about BOV armored vehicles from Slovenia in the Defense Forces of Ukraine. Another interesting fact is that these armored vehicles are quite rare in the Balkans.
According to the Military Balance 2023, at the beginning of the last year, the Serbian Armed Forces had up to 70 BOV armored vehicles of various modifications in service, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia had six such armored vehicles, as well as Bosnia and Herzegovina had 32 BOV armored vehicles in tank hunter version. At the beginning of 2023 Slovenia decommissioned BOV armored personnel carriers.
Serial production of these vehicles that was in the 1970s and 1990s, is not currently taking place. How Slovenia's BOVs are serviced within the Defense Forces of Ukraine is an open question at the moment.
There is also the question of how the Defense Forces of Ukraine can use BOVs from Slovenia. So far, these vehicles have not been seen in combat footage from the frontline or in military trainings for new brigades.
There is an assumption that part of the BOVs from Slovenia could be used by mobile fire groups of the Defense Forces of Ukraine.
There is an example when one of the mobile groups of the National Guard of Ukraine showed Romanian TAB-71 armored personnel carrier at its disposal.
Some characteristics of the BOV:
- combat weight - 9.1 tons;
- crew - 2 people, can accommodate up to 8 people;
- speed - up to 95 km/h on the highway.
Earlier Defense Express reported that the Netherlands had provided Ukraine with 152mm shells worth €350 million.
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