Ukraine delivered T-72AV tanks and BTR-4E APCs to Nigeria

BTR-4 Infantry Fighting Vehicule source Beegeagle's Blog

January 4, 2015 Denys Kolesnyk - info-news.eu
 

Ukraine Industrial, referring to Nigerian source “Beegeagle’s Blog”, published information about the delivery of Soviet-made T-72AB tanks and modern Ukrainian BTR-4E APCs.

Previously there was no information about contracts on delivery of such armaments to Nigeria. However, the information about the repair works of T-72AV at State Enterprise “Lviv Armor Repair Plant” appeared in September 2014. Concerning the BTR-4E, it seems that small part of 42 BTR-4E APCs batch designed for Iraq, was sold to Nigeria, after Iraq refused to accept them.

On March 26, 2014, Ukraine’s ex-PM Yulia Tymoshenko asked the Security Service of Ukraine to investigate the sale of military equipment to foreign states during the time of Russian military aggression against Ukraine. She also noted, that she had the information about the preparation of delivery of T-72 tanks and BTR-4E APCs to Nigeria.

Valeriy Heletey, then-Defense Minister of Ukraine, refuted some part of Tymoshenko’s statements, while confirmed the existence of a sales contract between Ukraine and Nigeria. “The contract was signed during the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych, and in case of inability to fulfill this contract, Ukraine will be obliged to pay the penalties.” – said Mr. Heletey.

According to unofficial information, in 2014, the Democratic Republic of Congo received a batch of modernized T-64B1M tanks in the framework of sales contract for 50 such tanks. However, 12 T-64B1M from that batch were delivered to the National Guard of Ukraine.

Source: Ukraine Industrial | Beegeagle’s Blog