The Defense Ministry of North Macedonia confirmed the transfer of T-72 third-generation tanks to Ukraine. North Macedonia owned 31 T-72s on its books, and these weapons entered service in 2000 as part of Russian aid during the conflict with Albanian separatists.
An official report from RTS, a Serbian television and radio outlet, indicated that the North Macedonian Defense Ministry reviewed footage circulating on social media showing a convoy of T-72 tanks moving toward Ukraine. Government representatives described the tanks as third-generation units slated for deployment soon. It was noted that the machines were initially earmarked for destruction but were repurposed. The defense ministry did not disclose the exact number of tanks handed over to Ukraine.
One official statement emphasized that steps would be taken to build modernized weaponry and capacities for the country’s armed forces. Given the evolving situation and Ukraine’s needs, the government decided to donate a certain number of armored vehicles required to meet those needs.
On July 26, it was disclosed that the German Ministry of Defense supplied Ukraine with Mars-II multiple launch rocket systems and Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft tanks.
What remains for North Macedonia?
Earlier discussions among Balkan officials suggested that NATO allies might compensate Skopje with equipment matching NATO standards to accompany the transfer of T-72s to Kiev. Talks touched on potential German Leopards or American Abrams tanks, but no agreement materialized.
As a result, if the T-72s have already left Macedonia and no German or American tanks were delivered, the Macedonian army faced the prospect of having few or no main battle tanks. In 2004, authorities began scrapping Soviet T-55s. The convoy footage circulating on social networks appears to show roughly ten tanks in circulation.
Soviet armament in Ukraine
The Ukrainian ground and air forces rely on a mix of modernized Soviet designs. Tanks include the T-84, a modernization of the T-80, and several upgrades of the T-72 family—T-72 AMT, AV, A, and B1 (including about 240 T-72M1 units) received from Poland and the Czech Republic and put into service. Other Soviet-era tanks such as the T-64BM Bulat and T-64 BV are in service after modernization, along with the BM Oplot based on the T-80, though a contract for 100 units by 2018 was not fulfilled.
Infantry fighting vehicles include the BMP-1, BMP-2, BMP-3, BRM-1K, BMD-1P, BMD-2, and modernized Warsaw Pact variants. Armored personnel carriers span a mix of Soviet, Ukrainian, and imported models, including BTR-60, BTR-70 with Ukrainian upgrades, BTR-80, BRDM-2 with Ukrainian enhancements, and BTR-D from MTLB platforms. Domestic designs feature the BTR-4E, BTR-3E1, and the BTR-7 Defender. Combat armored vehicles cover models such as Novator, Varta, Kozak-2, and 2M. Western additions include AT105, FV103 Spartan, Mastiff, Wolfhound, Husky, Saxon, the Bushmaster from Australia, Piranha III from Switzerland, Mowag Duro 3, plus American M113 and various HMMWV configurations.
Ukraine also fields Soviet-era Tochka-U ballistic missiles. Rocket artillery includes Uragan and Grad systems from the Soviet era, with Western systems like M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS and Czech RM-80s in service as well.
Air defense relies on a mix of Soviet and Western systems, including S-300V, Tor-M, Osa-AKM, Tunguska, Shilka, Strela-10M, and Western-styled Stormer HVM plus MANPADS; France’s Mistral systems and the American Stingers are also used. Combat aircraft feature Soviet types and Ukraine’s modernized Su-24, Su-25, Su-27, and MiG-29, while army aviation includes Mi-8, Mi-9, and Mi-24 transports and gunships.