According to official sources, the number of vehicles transferred by the end of this year will exceed 500 units (although it is not excluded that, in reality, there may be even more). Among the military aid provided to the Armed Forces of Ukraine so far are former Polish PT-91, Czech T-72EA, and Bulgarian T-72 tanks. For months, these have been assisting Ukrainian armored units in dealing with the russian invader. Nevertheless, this does not negate the importance of bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities with additional tank units.
Ukraine is better off receiving vehicles of the "Warsaw Pact" standard, which do not require additional training for personnel or the deployment of infrastructure for maintenance, according to the authors of the Polish Defence24.
Read more: Tanks, IFVs, APVs: What Weaponry Did Ukraine Receive From Allies in 2023? (Part 1)
Croatia and Slovenia
Both Croatia and Slovenia are distinguished by their utilization of the unique M-84 tanks, a variant derived from the Soviet T-72. These models exhibit superior features in comparison to their Soviet predecessors. Interestingly, a common aspect shared by these two nations is their openness to exchanging their "Warsaw Pact" tanks for Western Main Battle Tanks [MBTs], including advanced versions of the Leopard 2, for example.
Croatia possesses a fleet of 74 M-84 tanks, with a portion in storage. Therefore, if discussions regarding the transfer of Croatian M-84s to Ukraine commence, it is evident that official Zagreb would be relying on recovery resources or Western arms in return. This proposal is not entirely novel, as it has been under consideration since February 2023.
Shifting our focus to Slovenia, the country presently employs 14 M-84 tanks exclusively for training purposes, with an additional 31 units held in storage. Consequently, should Slovenia opt to transfer more M-84s to Ukraine, there would undoubtedly be a requirement for resources to refurbish these vehicles.
Cyprus and Morocco
Morocco has already facilitated the transfer of its T-72s to Ukraine. On the other hand, Cyprus shows potential interest in exchanging its T-80Us for complementary weaponry.
When it comes to the intricacies of tank transfer, the situation might seem different. The authors suggest that Morocco might still retain approximately 148 T-72 B-type tanks. Speculation arises regarding the possibility of Morocco considering an exchange of these tanks for operational armored vehicles from the United States.
Regarding Cyprus, the initial plan involved transferring the T-80U to Ukraine in exchange for a designated quantity of Merkava tanks, specifically Mk II and Mk III variants. These tanks were in conservation, but due to the escalation of full-scale conflict in the Gaza Strip, Israel had to recommission them for active duty. Consequently, discussions regarding the transfer of these tanks to Cyprus are currently on hold.
Czech Republic
The analysts at Defense24 propose that the Czech Republic might still have a handful to dozens of T-72M1 tanks stashed away in storage facilities. This claim is quite extraordinary, given that the country has already surpassed its previous tank allocation for aid to Ukraine by a staggering 240%.
Irrespective of whether these resources are under the control of private companies or the Czech military, the crucial point is that these concealed assets have the potential to be transferred to Ukraine. This transfer might be facilitated through a reciprocal arrangement, involving additional Leopard 2 tanks, or through a straightforward commercial agreement.
Does Poland currently have "free" tanks of the "Warsaw Pact" standard that could also be transferred to Ukraine? The authors of Defence24 did not raise this question.
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