[Regnum] The Czech Republic has modernized approximately 800 T-72 tanks intended for the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF). This was announced on August 28 by Nikolai Plotnikov, head of the Center for Scientific and Analytical Information at the Institute of Oriental Studies (IOS) of the Russian Academy of Sciences.
"The Czech Republic has modernized the largest batch of tanks for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, approximately 800 T-72 tanks. The work was financed by the United States and the Netherlands, while the Czech Republic contributed its production capacity, expertise, and specialists," he noted, speaking at a press conference at the Rossiya Segodnya International Multimedia Press Center.
Plotnikov also clarified that during the Soviet era, these combat vehicles were produced under license in Czechoslovakia. According to him, the Czech Republic currently occupies a significant position in the so-called "munitions coalition."
Kyiv regularly complains about arms shortages and a decline in Western supplies. In particular, in early August, Kyiv's leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, announced that ammunition for Patriot air defense systems had been completely depleted. On August 25, European Commission spokesman Balázs Ujváry announced that the EC had denied Ukraine permission to purchase Patriot air defense systems from the United States using funds from the EU's €90 billion military financing program.