The West has been providing significant numbers of small arms like machine guns as
well as MANPADS and ATGMS to Ukraine. But Ukraine has been requesting
more support from the international community to counter Russian forces.
This includes appeals for heavier weapons like long-range air defense systems and armor vehicles.
It has come to light that the Czech government has started moving T-72 tanks
and BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles out of storage for transfer to Ukraine.
As per Reuters, Czech Defence Minister Jana Cernochova told members of parliament
when asked to confirm the transfer of these armored vehicles to Ukraine,
"I will only assure you that the Czech Republic ... is helping Ukraine as much as it can
and will continue to help by (supplying) military equipment, both light and heavy"
In this video Defense Updates analyzes how the Czech Republic has stepped up the game with the
supply of T-72 & BMP-1 to Ukraine? Let's get started.
Multiple social media images and video clips
show T-72s and BMP-1s being loaded onto train cars in the Czech Republic.
Viewers may note that there were reports circulating in the media
that the U.S. government would help facilitate the delivery
of T-72 tanks from an unspecified NATO member to the Ukrainian armed forces.
Also, the German government had separately approved a request from authorities in the
Czech Republic to send ex-East German BMP-1s that they now own to Ukraine.
So, there is clear evidence that there are at least two distinct transfers of
armored vehicles from the Czech Republic to Ukraine in progress now.
Ukraine mostly has Soviet or Russian-origin weapons.
The personnel have been trained in such systems and have familiarity with them.
While troops and reserve personnel can be quickly trained to use reasonably uncomplicated weapons
like MANPADS and ATGMS, this is not the case with armor vehicles.
Though not as complicated as an aircraft,
learning to operate a new tank and armor vehicle does take a bit of time.
In this case, it is best for Ukraine if they can get weapons they already know how to use.
The T-72 is a family of Soviet/Russian main battle tanks that entered production in 1969.
The T-72 was a development of the T-64, which was troubled by high costs and its reliance on
older developmental technology The T-72A is the second generation of Soviet-made
main battle tank MBT in the T-72 family and some unconfirmed reports suggest this is
the variant being provided to UkraineThe first version of the T-72 entered production in 1970.
T-72 was the most common tank used by the Soviet Army from
the 1970s to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The main armament of the T-72A consists of one 125 mm (2A46) smoothbore gun fitted with a
light-alloy thermal sleeve and a bore evacuator. The second armament of the T-72A includes
one 7.62 mm caliber PKT machine gun mounted coaxially to the right of the main armament.
Standard equipment of the T-72A includes night vision, NBC protection systems, and heating.
Russia itself has been using it against Ukraine and a significant percentage
of these have also been destroyed using weapons like Javelin and NLAW.
Development of the BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicle commenced in 1960.
It entered service with the Soviet Army in 1966. The BMP-1 was first shown publicly in 1967
This infantry fighting vehicle has a crew of three, including a commander, gunner and driver.
Commander is located behind the driver. The vehicle can also carry an infantry
squad of 8 fully-equipped troops. It has two rear entry doors, roof hatches,
firing ports, and other measures which made the BMP-1 a true infantry fighting vehicle, which
not only carries infantry into battle but supports dismounts on the battlefield with its weapons.
This infantry fighting vehicle has a one-man
low-profile turret. The armament is a magazine-fed low velocity 73 mm smoothbore gun.
There is also a coaxial 7.62 mm machine gun.
With images of civilian bodies littering the streets of Bucha sparking a global outcry, there
is renewed push to add more sanctions against Russia and provide more weapons to Ukraine.
According to information published by the "Ekathimerini" website on April 4, 2022,
the United States has asked Cyprus government if it would be possible
to transfer Russian-made weapons and combat vehicles in services with the Cyprus armed forces
including TOR-M1 and S-300 air defense missile systems, T-80U main battle tank,
BMP-3 tracked armored IFV (Infantry Fighting Vehicle) and Mi-35 attack helicopter.
It is evident that there is a new level of urgency when
it comes to providing Ukraine with ways of countering Russian forces.
It remains to be seen how things pan out in the coming days.