Poland’s fleet of PT-91 battle tanks have arrived in Ukraine, according to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, who posted his appreciation to Poland on social media.
Through his Twitter account, Yermak assured the Polish government that Ukrainians were very thankful for the aid sent by Polish friends, writing: “A friend in need is a friend indeed,” he wrote.
Poland’s main battle tank PT-91 “Twardy” is a completely modernized Soviet-made T-72 tank. Recently, a video showing the Polish tanks, now serving in Ukraine, was published on social media by the Unian Ukrainian news agency.
Poland is to replace the equipment sent to Ukraine with American Abrams tanks. Besides the contracted 250 new Abrams tanks, Poland has also agreed to purchase 116 used Abrams tanks from the United States.
Mariusz Błaszczak, Poland’s deputy prime minister and defense minister, specified that a purchase of 116 tanks, the first delivery of which will be made at the beginning of next year, was agreed on with the United States. At the beginning of April, Błaszczak signed a contract to purchase 250 units of the latest generation of Abrams tanks with the first deliveries expected by 2025-26.
The first new Abrams tanks were delivered to the Polish forces for training purposes last week.
