The Armed Forces received rare Czechoslovakian-made tanks. We are talking about VT-72B engineering machines produced in the late 80s.
According to Forbes, neither the Czech nor Slovak army uses VT-72B tanks. The Czech army is armed with modernized VT-72M vehicles. In 2014, Ukraine received an unspecified number of VT-72Bs from the Czech Republic. It is possible that the journalists of the publication came across them.
Rare VT-72B tanks spotted in service with the Ukrainian Armed ForcesThe importance of engineer tanks cannot be overstated. During the counteroffensive, the Ukrainian Armed Forces lost some engineering equipment. The VT-72B can be used to evacuate damaged armored vehicles from the battlefield. For this purpose, it is equipped with a winch. In addition, the VT-72B boasts a bulldozer blade and a 19-ton crane. In terms of its capabilities, the Czechoslovakian engineering vehicle is similar to the Challenger ARV, M-88, and Bergepanzer.
Some interesting bits on this train, in order of tracked vehicles.
Very rare VT-72 ARV (based on T-72)
T-80BV
Very rare GT-MU, almost like a mini MT-LB
BTS-4A ARV (based on T-44M) https://t.co/aObp2is1bh– AFV Recognition (@AFVRec_) July 26, 2023
Forbes journalists note that the Russian army also has VT-72B tanks. Where she got them is not entirely clear, since Slovakia and the Czech Republic are allies of Ukraine.