Kyiv may have to wait a bit longer for the Croatian tanks, even as it can use every weapon it can get.
Ukraine continues to fight against Russia with a force made up of largely secondhand military hardware. Very few of the Western-supplied vehicles and aircraft it uses rolled freshly off the assembly line. Kyiv has been grateful and resourceful in employing the equipment, but it has also been forced to wait longer than expected for some of the platforms to arrive.
Among the yet-to-be delivered platforms to Ukraine are 30 M-84 main battle tanks (MBTs) from Croatia, along with an additional 30 M-80A infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs). Last October, Zagreb pledged to provide the 60 armored vehicles as part of a circular exchange with Germany, whereby Berlin would provide a new batch of Leopard 2 tanks to the Croatian Army. Zagreb will in turn receive 50 of the more advanced Leopard 2A8, the latest and most capable variation of the German-made MBT, beginning in 2027.
In the meantime, the first pair of the Leopard 2A4HRV, the Croatian designation of the older Leopard 2A4 models, rolled into Zagreb on July 31 and have since arrived at the Croatian Army’s arsenals. Images of the arrival of the freshly painted MBTs made the rounds on social media soon after their arrival. The question is how soon the M-84, the Yugoslavian licensed clone of the Soviet T-72M1 MBTs, could begin to head to Kyiv.
Ukraine May Need to Wait a While Longer to Get Its Tanks
As of this month, it is believed that just two of the 2A4HRV tanks are now in Croatia. Neither is combat capable, and instead are meant to serve as training platforms to prepare Croatian forces for the additional Leopard 2A8 models.
What is notable is that Croatia had previously sought to acquire the German-made tanks along with a batch of PzH 2000 self-propelled howitzers, but that deal was never finalized due to Zagreb’s “financial constraints” at the time, according to Defense Express. The deal was revived last year when Croatia pledged to provide the 30 tanks and an equal number of IFVs in the “circular exchange.”
There had been reports in December that at least some of the M-84s were sent to Germany to be refurbished and readied for transfer to Ukraine. However, nearly eight months later, the state of those tanks, and even how many were sent, is unclear.
Kyiv may have to wait a bit longer for the M-84s, even as it can use every tank it can get.
About the M-84 Tank
The M-84 was the Yugoslavian-made variant of the third-generation Soviet-era T-72 tank, and was employed by the Yugoslav Army during the late stages of the Cold War and briefly during the fractious days of Yugoslavia’s dissolution. Its design is similar to the T-72, but includes three compartments with the drive positioned at the center of the hull.
It featured several new improvements, including an upgraded fire-control system and more capable composite armor. The M-84 entered service with the Yugoslav military in 1984, and it saw extensive service in the Yugoslav Wars of the 1990s and early 2000s.
It is or was operated by some of the former Yugoslav republics, and remains in the arsenals of Croatia, Serbia, and Slovenia. In addition, it was adopted by the Kuwaiti Army, with a handful captured and employed by the Iraqi Army during the Gulf War.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a thirty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / DarioZg.
