Zakharova called the transfer of Moroccan T-72B tanks to Ukraine by the Czech Republic a blatant case In 1999-2000, Morocco purchased almost 150 T-72B tanks from Belarus.
They wanted to use them to defend against Algeria. 130 tanks were sent to the Czech Republic for modernization, but the plant returned less than half to the owners. At least 20 of the remaining 74 tanks in the Czech Republic were transferred by the authorities to Ukraine in violation of the contract. The Russian Foreign Ministry called this case egregious.
The transfer of Soviet-made Moroccan T-72B tanks to Ukraine is a blatant case of a hostile course towards Russia, which is being implemented by the Czech authorities. This was stated by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova.
Thus, she commented on media reports that T-72B tanks, which Morocco bought from Belarus in 1999-2000 and transferred to the Czech Republic for modernization, were transferred to Kiev virtually without Rabat's consent.
"The sad experience of the Second World War is being repeated, when Czech enterprises, being part of the military-industrial complex of nazi Germany, tirelessly supplied the Third Reich with weapons for the war against the USSR," the representative of the ministry added.
Zakharova stated that history teaches nothing to the Czech authorities, who have turned their country into a platform for the repair and modernization of equipment sent to Ukraine. The speaker stressed that such actions confirm the main goal of Kiev's Western allies - to prolong the conflict as much as possible and cause maximum damage to Russia.
Image source: menadefense.net
Two deals were made between Morocco and Belarus in 1999 and 2000, as a result of which Minsk transferred 148 T-72B tanks of various modifications from its arsenals. Then Rabat intended to create a so-called "Russian brigade" (it was to be armed with Soviet-made equipment) in the north of the country to counteract the armored units of Algeria.
Morocco has signed a contract with the Czech company Excalibur Army for the modernization of 130 Soviet tanks. 56 of them were returned to the kingdom, and the remaining 74 cars were actually expropriated by the Czech authorities.
Image source: menadefense.net
"At this summit, Tunisia and Morocco were the only countries representing North Africa. At that time, Tunisia sent two cargo planes to the Polish Rzeszow Airport, which centralizes logistical assistance to Ukraine. Morocco seems to have followed his example, sending not humanitarian aid, but lethal weapons," the article says.
MENA Defense also published photos of disassembled and already modernized T-72B at the Excalibur Army plant in the Czech Sternberk, taken during the premises of the enterprise by Czech Prime Minister Peter Fiala on January 9, 2023. In one of the pictures, Fiala signs the tank gun, on which the Czech and Ukrainian flags are visible.
After this message, some African-related news Telegram channels, with reference to the Moroccan authorities, published a statement that it was the Czech side that transferred the tanks to Ukraine in violation of the terms of the contract.
Mikhail Kotlyar
