The Ukrainian army’s 21st Mechanized Brigade has recently received new Polish-made Rosomak 8×8 armored vehicles which are now used to fight Russian troops. Indeed, the Ukrainian Army 21st Brigade is currently engaged in a defensive operation against a Russian counteroffensive in the western region of Kreminna, located in northeastern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Army 21st Brigade received a donation of armored vehicles from Sweden earlier this year, which included 50 CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, 10 Strv 122 tanks, eight Archer howitzers, and at least one Bgbv 90 armored recovery vehicle. However, these vehicles were insufficient to fully equip the entire brigade, which consists of 2,000 personnel.
The addition of Polish Rosomak Wolverines represents a significant improvement in the operational readiness of the Ukrainian Army 21st Brigade. These eight-wheel infantry fighting vehicles weigh 25 tons and were part of Poland’s commitment to providing 200 of them to the Ukrainian government, as the Army Recognition editorial team reported on 06/04/2023. This is the first time they have been spotted in Ukraine.
The Rosomak is a Polish-made 8×8 wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) with its based on the Finnish Patria AMV (Armored Modular Vehicle) design. The name “Rosomak” translates to “Wolverine” in Polish, and in 2003, Poland acquired a license from Finland’s Patria to produce the APC locally, with adaptations to meet the specific requirements of the Polish Armed Forces.