Czech Republic transfers dozens of T-72 tanks to Ukraine

The Czech Republic has transferred several dozen of Soviet-era T-72 tanks to Ukraine in recent months, in exchange for at least five German Leopard-2A4 tanks, Czech Defense Minister Jana Chernohova said on July 21, as reported by news agency České Noviny.

Chernohova met with her German counterpart, Boris Pistorius. Prague wants to ultimately buy 77 of Germany’s new Leopard-2A8, the minister said, Yahoo News reports.

The Czech army currently uses upgraded T-72M4CZ tanks. In recent months, it has provided Ukraine with several older versions of the T-72.

In return for this assistance, Prague will receive 14 Leopard-2A4 tanks and one repair and recovery vehicle Bpz3 Büffel.

Chernohova confirmed that the Czech Republic has already received five tanks, with others expected to arrive by the end of the year and the repair and recovery vehicle to be received in spring 2024.

During the meeting, Pistorius reiterated that democratic countries will continue to support Ukraine as long as necessary.

"The horrific war that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is waging against Ukraine is a crime," he said.

On July 7, Czech PM Petr Fiala announced that Prague will provide Ukraine with more attack helicopters and hundreds of thousands of artillery ammunition, as well as help train Ukrainian pilots on F-16 aircraft.