Berlin apparently has given its consent to the possible shipment of several dozen Soviet-era Czech armored vehicles to Kiev
Germany has given the green light to supply 58 PbV-501 (BMP-1) infantry fighting vehicles (IVFs) to Ukraine, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry told the Welt newspaper, on Friday. It is currently being owned by Czech firms, however any attempts to transfer the vehicles to third parties requires Berlin’s approval due to an end-user agreement.
These vehicles were originally designed in 1960s and belonged to East Germany. They ended up being in the German military’s inventory after the fall and reunification. They were later transferred to Sweden, and were then upgraded to a version PbV-501.
According to the Czech Republic newspaper, the armored vehicles were eventually sold to them. They tried to transfer them to Ukraine in 2019. However, Berlin did not grant permission for the company to sell the IFVs at the time.
As the IFVs are still in need of maintenance and repairs, the delivery of vehicles to Kiev may not happen immediately. According to the newspaper, it will take several weeks for this process.
Germany has so far refused to supply Ukraine with any heavy military equipment. Instead, it only supplies personnel armor and helmets as well as anti-aircraft systems and anti-tank system man-portables.
Moscow attacked the neighboring state in late February, following Ukraine’s failure to implement the terms of the Minsk agreements signed in 2014, and Russia’s eventual recognition of the Donbass republics in Donetsk and Lugansk. Minsk Protocol (German and French-mediated) was created to normalize the status within Ukraine’s regions.
Russia now demands that Ukraine declare itself neutral and vows to not join NATO’s military bloc. Kiev claims that the Russian invasion was unprovoked. It also denies any plans to take the republics with force.
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