Czech armament companies will repair Ukrainian military equipment, with the first contract already signed for the restoration of T-64 tanks, the Czech Ministry of Defense announced on Tuesday.
In the future, repairs may be extended to BTR and BRDM wheeled armor.
The Ministry of Defense did not state the numbers of repaired pieces of equipment. Czech companies will be tasked with the more extensive works, including overhauls and the commissioning of long-term stored equipment.
“The Czech Republic was the first partner country that the Ukrainian side officially approached with a request for mutual cooperation between Czech and Ukrainian companies in repairs of land equipment that needs to be made operational or that has been damaged during the fighting,” said Defense Minister Jana Černochová.
Czechia has previously sent military equipment worth more than 1 billion korunas (€41 million) to Ukraine. The exact content of the assistance has not been specified by the ministry although reports suggest heavy equipment was included.
According to Jana Zeichmeisterová from the press department of the Czech Ministry of Defense, the office helps to arrange the service through the Agency of Intergovermental Defense Cooperation — the first contract will be awarded to the Czechoslovak Group for repairs of T-64 tanks.
Additional future contracts are possible
“Minor failures or combat damage will be repaired by Ukrainians. Czech aid consists mainly in the use of capacities for more extensive work and overhauls,” stated Zeichmeisterová. In the future, repairs may be extended to armored vehicles of BTR and BRDM type series and other companies may be involved in those,” she added.
Richard Kuběna, commercial director of the Land Systems division of the Czechoslovak Group, praised the efforts of the Czech Ministry of Defense. According to him, the administration and coordination associated with the project is very demanding.
