After Slovenia expressed its readiness to send tanks to Ukraine, Romania could soon do the same, which would be the first time that tanks from the region would join the donated armored vehicles of other NATO members as part of aid to Kiev to defend itself from the Russian invasion.
According to the Balkan Security Network portal, the German and Slovenian media initially reported that official Ljubljana would send T-72 tanks to Ukraine, and that in return it would receive tanks and armored vehicles from Germany from stock.
Slovenia has expressed a desire for Leopard 2 tanks and Puma infantry fighting vehicles and Boxer wheels, and Berlin has reportedly expressed readiness to cede slightly older Marder and Fuhs armored vehicles.
The portal, however, reminds that Slovenia does not have T-72 tanks, but has 57 Yugoslav-made M-84 tanks, which are significantly improved Soviet T-72s.
“Of the older T-55s inherited from the SFRY, 32 were modernized to the M-55S standard. Most of the tanks were preserved and housed in the barracks in Pivka. Slovenia currently has one M-84 company with 13 tanks in operational use,” it added.
The text states that part of the tanks are located in the Joint Multinational Center for Readiness of the American Army in Germany. There, together with the crews, they have been participating in real training exercises of NATO units in the role of opposing forces for years.
The Balkan Security Network adds that the example of Slovenia could be followed by Romania, which has 28 T-72 tanks, which could serve Ukraine’s war efforts.
Sources say only five Romanian ’70s are in working order, but that the rest could be repaired or used for parts. Bucharest once bought these tanks from Israel, which came to them as spoils of war after the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. . years “, it is added.
The Romanian government intends to amend existing laws to allow the donation of goods from the reserves of forces dedicated to Romania’s national defense, in the context of Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine.