Ukraine to buy 100 Rosomak Armored Personnel Carriers from Poland
Ukraine has announced that it will purchase 100 Rosomak armored personnel carriers (APCs) from Poland to strengthen its military capabilities amid the ongoing conflict with Russia. The deal was confirmed by Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki on Twitter on April 1, 2023.
Morawiecki wrote that Rosomak are “top-class” APCs and that the payment for this purchase will be made from the funds of the European Union and the United States. He added that this was a sign of solidarity and support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Rosomak is a Polish variant of the Finnish Patria AMV 8×8 APC, which is designed for various combat and peacekeeping missions. The Rosomak can carry up to ten soldiers and is equipped with a 30 mm Mk44 cannon and a 7.62 mm machine gun. It can also be fitted with anti-tank missiles, mortars, or other weapons systems.
The Rosomak has been in service with the Polish Army since 2003 and has been deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq and has also been exported to Croatia and Malaysia. According to Morawiecki, the Rosomak are manufactured in the city of Siemianowice Śląskie in southern Poland.
The purchase of Rosomak APCs by Ukraine is part of a broader effort to modernize and enhance its defense capabilities with the help of its Western allies. In March 2023, 17 EU countries and Norway agreed to jointly produce and purchase ammunition for Ukraine, which has been facing a shortage of artillery shells due to the prolonged war.
Poland and Spain later joined the initiative, which aims to provide Ukraine with one million pieces of artillery ammunition within 12 months. The ammunition will be produced in Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, and Lithuania.
Poland has also been one of the main supporters of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and has offered to host a NATO training center for Ukrainian troops on its territory. Poland and Ukraine have also been cooperating on developing joint defense projects, such as a new tank or a missile system.
The acquisition of Rosomak APCs by Ukraine is expected to boost its mobility and firepower on the battlefield and deter further Russian aggression. It is also a testament to the strong bilateral relations between Poland and Ukraine, which share a common history and a common vision for a secure and prosperous Europe.
Photo Credit: Daniel Leal via Reuters
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