In the first year after the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used only Soviet-era tanks to stall the advance of the invaders and counterattack. The Ukrainian Armed Forces captured a substantial number of Russian tanks on the battlefield over the first 111 months of the war.
After the disintegration of the Soviet Union, Ukraine inherited 1000~1320 T-72 tanks, but between 1992 and 2015, Ukraine exported 863 T-72 tanks to third countries, and used more T-64 and T-80 tanks. Obviously the Ukrainian army prefers these two tanks.
The United States called on NATO allies to provide Ukraine with main battle tanks, which are T-72 and other types of tanks left over from the Soviet era. These tanks would be used to counterattack Russia and retake the eastern and southern areas occupied by Russian troops.
Ukraine can use the T-72 without too much training, and Ukraine also has a lot of spare parts, logistics maintenance would be very convenient. Ukraine is also good at upgrading T-72 tanks, so this is a logical option.
The number of T-72 tanks in NATO inventory is very large, with a total number of about 1100 tanks. Basically, they are the Soviet export version of the T-72M tanks. Although they have been upgraded subsequently, they are still not as good as the T-72B3 version currently used by Russia.
The countries currently equipped with T-72 tanks by NATO member countries include: Poland has 382 tanks, Bulgaria has 410 tanks (of which 250 are in reserve), Hungary has 164 tanks (of which 130 are in reserve), Slovakia has 20 tanks, and the Czech Republic has 20 tanks. 116 (of which 66 are in reserve).Countries like Poland and the Czech Republic donated hundreds of Soviet tanks to Ukraine to replenish the losses incurred by the Ukrainian Army during the fierce fighting against the Russian forces. Ukraines allies all over the world began running out of Soviet-era tanks to support Ukrainian resistance.
Bulgaria
Bulgaria had been one of the few EU countries to refuse weapon deliveries to Ukraine. its inventory, the Bulgarian army had 90 T-72M1/M2+ MBTs [Bulgaria has a sizable reserve with reportedly 250 in storage], 160 IFVs (90 BMP-1s and 70 BMP-2s), and 120 APCs (100 MT-LBs and 20 BTR-60s). But the countrys parliament voted on 03 November 2022, instructing the government to put forward a plan within the next month to completely change that attitude.
MPs from different parties who argued that providing military assistance to Ukraine could be an opportunity for Bulgaria to modernize its weapons stock. If doing so, like the Czechs, the Polish and the Slovenians who offered their Soviet-era tanks and APCs to Ukraine, the Bulgarians might follow the same conduct by proposing similar vehicles provided they receive appropriate replacements.
The Ministry of Defense rejected the speculations that the Ministry of Defense provided equipment and armaments to the Ukrainian side, beyond what was approved by the decisions of the National Assembly in 2022.
When asked about the sold T-72 tanks cited in publications, Minister Stoyanov stated 17 January 2023 : "In the last year, the Ministry of Defense has not sold T-72 tanks to anyone. They are the property of the Bulgarian Army and are in our formations. The decision of the National Assembly clearly states what can be exported to help Ukraine - armament and equipment. Neither the T-72, nor the S-300 complexes, nor the MiG-29, nor the Su-25 were exported," noted Minister Stoyanov.
Czech Republic
On 10 January 2022, the Czech Republic started shipping the first batch of 120 modernized T-72 tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The upgraded tanks would have improved communication systems, thermal imagers, dynamic protection, and more powerful guns.
In 2022, Czech media claimed that Prague had supplied up to 40 non-modernized T-72 tanks to Kiev as part of its military aid to Ukraine. The Czech Defense Ministry confirmed the delivery but remained tight-lipped on the exact number of the tanks.
Under a trilateral agreement between the Czech Republic, the US and the Netherlands to team up to deliver upgraded T-72B tanks to Kiev before the end of 2023. A US news outlet noted that the tanks would come from the inventory of the Czech defense industry and that they arent Czech army tanks North Macedonian authorities donated around 31 "T-72" to Ukraine.
Germany intended to supply the Czech Republic with a batch of 15 Leopard 2 tanks as part of the "circular exchange" program in order to replenish the losses of those countries that transfer Soviet-made equipment to Ukraine. Representatives of the German Ministry of Defense said that Germany would pay for the deal and train Czech tankers in handling new tanks. "This exchange is another good example of how we help Ukraine in its courageous struggle against Russian aggression," it was said.
Hungary
Hungary also has a considerable stockpile, with 130 T-72M1s mothballed in warehouses. At the same time, they ordered 44 Leopard 2A7 tanks from Germany to replace the aging T-72M1, but Hungary's relationship with Russia is much better than other NATO members, so Hungary would not participate in the US plan.
Macedonia
Macedonia decided to donate T-72 tanks to Ukraine. On July 28, state authorities confirmed that the tanks had already gone to Ukraine. The exact number was not named, but it is known that the Macedonian Ministry of defence has 31 T-72 tanks on its balance sheet. According to the Ministry of defence of the state, tanks of the third generation were transferred from the battalion, which would soon be disbanded. These tanks were supplied to the authorities of Skopje by Russia in 2000 during the uprising of the People's liberation army.
Morocco
Morocco sold a number of T-72B main battle tanks to Ukraine, the Menadefense news site reported on 22 January 2023. The tanks had been upgraded in the Czech Republic. Around 20 of those tanks were sent to the frontline in Ukraine a week earlier, Menadefense reported. The US is sponsoring this transaction by sending Morrocco older M1 Abrams tanks. In total, Morocco has 136 T-72B tanks, which it bought two decades ago from Belarus to create a so-called Russian brigade in the northern part of the country to defend the state from armored divisions in neighboring Algeria. The North African countrys decision to deliver arms to Ukraine was reportedly made during the Ramstein summit on April 26, 2022. At this summit, Tunisia and Morocco were the only two countries to represent North Africa.
Poland
Warsaw provided Kiev with more than 260 T-72 tanks in the months that followed Russia announcing the beginning of its special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February 2022. Poland took initiative and sent more T-72M series tanks. Poland had almost 400 pieces of this equipment. According to the decision of the Ministry of Defense in 2019, some were modified, mainly in terms of the fire capabilities of these tanks. Dozens of infantry fighting vehicles, 2S1 Gozdzik self-propelled howitzers, and Grad rocket launchers. Poland also provided air-to-air missiles for MIG-29 and Su-27 aircraft.
The U.S. would sell 250 Abrams tanks to Poland to help replace those Poland donated. The U.K. has also offered to send its own tanks to Poland to stave off any concerns that the country, which borders the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, now lacks enough for its own defense.
Britain planned to send a batch of Challenger 2 tanks to Poland so the Polish government can then hand over to Ukraine the Soviet T-72 needed by the Ukrainian military to confront Russia. The corresponding statement was made by Prime Minister Boris Johnson at a press conference in India 22 April 2022. According to him, the UK was considering understaffing the armed forces of its Polish ally so that Poland can send part of its tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Poland has transferred 250 T-72 tanks to Ukraine, and in the future will transfer 60 modernized T-72 and PT-91 Twardy and 14 Leopard. This was announced on 13 February 2023 by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki at a press conference in Stockholm after talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. "Poland has already delivered 250 post-Soviet tanks. We also plan to deliver another additional upgraded 60 tanks and another 14 Leopards," he said, assuring that Poland would continue to actively support Ukraine.
Poland was one of the first countries to advocate sending modern tanks to Ukraine. Warsaw actively promoted this initiative, offering to form a tank coalition of countries in order to jointly provide such support to Kyiv. On January 25, the German government confirmed that it would send 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and issue permission to other countries to re-export these vehicles. According to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, Leopard 2 will be sent to Ukraine "until the end of March." Britain, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, the United States and France also announced their intention to provide Western-made tanks to Kyiv.
Slovakia
Slovakia was ready to send 30 T-72 tanks to Ukraine immediately if it can receive Western tanks to replace them, defence minister Jaroslav Nad said 25 January 2023. Nad told a briefing that Slovakia had sent 30 Soviet-era BVP-1 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine last year after agreeing that Germany would deliver 15 Leopard 2 tanks to Slovakia to take their place. We still have 30 T-72 tanks and would be ready to send them immediately to Ukraine, even tomorrow, if there would be an option to receive Western tanks Leopards or any other in exchange, Nad said. There is no space for decrease in Slovakia, but there is space for exchange, he said.
Slovenia
The German government would transfer Soviet T-72 tanks to Ukraine. Delivery would be via Slovenia. This was stated April 21, 2022 by the agency DPA. SOFREP reported 23 April 2022 that Slovenia was going to donate Yugoslav-made M-84 tanks (an upgraded version of the T-72) to Ukraine. Slovenia's armed forces had a total of 14 operational M-84 main battle tanks and 32 in store.
The supply of Soviet tanks to Ukraine would be carried out on the principle of circular exchange. Slovenia would transfer tanks from the reserves of the countrys armed forces to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and Germany, in turn, undertakes to supply the Slovenian army with German Marder infantry fighting vehicles and Fuchs armored personnel carriers. Slovenia wanted to receive from Germany not only infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, but also modern German Leopard 2 tanks.
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