Prague – The Czech Republic and Slovakia are preparing to modernize their armed forces with the acquisition of Swedish-made CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, a move gaining renewed significance as Ukraine shares battlefield experience with the platform. The planned purchases come as fighting intensifies in eastern Ukraine, with battles shifting to urban centers and a key pipeline supplying Russian oil to Europe experiencing renewed disruption.
Sweden unveiled a CV90 variant specifically for the Slovak army last week, showcasing the vehicle’s capabilities. Czechia will receive a similar model, though equipped with a different cannon. Both nations view the CV90 as a cornerstone of their heavy mechanized units. The announcement, accompanied by a photo shared on X (formerly Twitter) by BAE Systems Hägglunds on February 20, 2026, signals a commitment to bolstering defense capabilities in the face of regional instability.
Presenting – the CV9035SVK MkIV! The new IFV of the Slovak Armed Forces. 🇸🇰💪 pic.twitter.com/sTYYcDrr1b
— BAE Systems Hägglunds (@BAESHagglunds) February 20, 2026
Crucially, the decision to procure the CV90 is informed by Ukraine’s ongoing experience with an older version of the vehicle. Although the Ukrainian military operates a less modern variant, insights gleaned from the battlefield are proving invaluable. A report by the Swedish military magazine Officerstidningen, which visited the front lines in the Sumy region, detailed Ukrainian assessments of the CV90’s performance. The publication highlighted the 21st Mechanized Brigade, nicknamed “Swedish” due to its deployment of both CV90s and Stridsvagn 122 tanks – a Swedish modernization of the Leopard 2A5.
Ukrainian Battlefield Experience
Sweden has donated 50 CV90s and 10 Stridsvagn 122 tanks to Ukraine. Initial reports from Oryx, a website tracking military equipment losses, indicated that Russia had destroyed one Stridsvagn 122 and damaged eight others, with six subsequently abandoned by Ukrainian forces after taking damage. Oryx’s data provides a publicly available, though not necessarily exhaustive, record of equipment losses.
However, a Ukrainian officer, identified only as Serhiy, disputed the accuracy of those figures, stating that some vehicles are repeatedly counted as destroyed and that Ukrainian forces have made significant efforts to recover and redeploy damaged equipment. Serhiy also offered a stark statistic: “During two years of service, only one crew member has been killed.” This suggests a high level of crew protection offered by the vehicle.
A tank commander known as Bars echoed this sentiment, stating that the Leopard tanks offer a significant improvement in survivability compared to older Soviet-era equipment.
Broader Conflict Developments
The developments surrounding the CV90 purchases and Ukrainian battlefield experience occur against a backdrop of continued fighting in eastern Ukraine. Battles have shifted to the center of Hryščyne, formerly Pokrovske, as Russian forces press their advance. While Ukrainian defenses along the Bachmut-Sloviansk road remain in place, the situation is deteriorating. A Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Zaporizhzhia region appears to be losing momentum, according to recent assessments.
There has also been a reported success for the Ukrainian “Flamingo” missile system, though details remain limited. Meanwhile, a key oil pipeline, the Druzhba pipeline, has once again caught fire in Russia, raising concerns about energy supplies to Europe. According to Denník N, the incident follows a pattern of disruptions that some observers attribute to Ukrainian actions, though Kyiv has not officially claimed responsibility.
Oil Pipeline Concerns and Political Tensions
Slovak Defense Minister Robert Kaliňák has suggested that Ukraine could restore oil flow through the Druzhba pipeline at any time, attributing the current disruption to political motivations, potentially linked to a dispute between Kyiv, and Budapest. As reported by Pravda, Kaliňák claims the technical issues have been resolved, and the continued halt in oil flow is a deliberate act.
The situation remains fluid, and the coming days will be critical in determining the trajectory of the conflict. The Czech and Slovak decisions to invest in the CV90 represent a long-term commitment to strengthening their defense capabilities, informed by the hard-won lessons of the war in Ukraine. Further updates on the Druzhba pipeline situation and the fighting in eastern Ukraine are expected in the coming days.
The next official update regarding the CV90 procurement is expected from the Czech Ministry of Defence in early March, detailing the timeline for delivery and integration into the armed forces. Readers can follow developments in the conflict in Ukraine through reputable news organizations such as the Associated Press and Reuters.
If you are feeling distressed by the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, resources are available. You can find support and information from the Ukrainian Red Cross: https://www.redcross.org.ua/en/
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