Seoul stands firm: No Post-Soviet arms for Ukraine
Ukrainian media note that the South Korean army has begun using T-80U tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles as training targets for its kamikaze drones. For Seoul, the post-Soviet equipment no longer holds significant value but could greatly assist Ukraine. However, despite Kyiv's increasingly loud requests, there is still no chance of such a transfer.
At the end of November this year, Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov visited South Korea and attended talks by President Yoon Suk-yeol, among others. The discussions included the potential acquisition of South Korean weapons by Ukraine. According to the media, Seoul has again decided to refuse and remain committed to its previous stance, which is to support Ukraine but exclude arms deliveries.
The new role of South Korean T-80U and BMP-3
This approach by the South Korean authorities has been widely commented on in many Ukrainian media outlets. They also highlight reports from recent South Korean army exercises, featuring photos of T-80U tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles used as targets for kamikaze drones.
This equipment was initially received from Russia in the 1990s. Based on reports from these exercises, it is difficult to assess its technical condition. However, much indicates that at least some vehicles are operational, and as Ukrainian media emphasize, even non-operational ones could benefit the army fighting Russia.
"This does not improve the situation we are in, because even worn-out T-80 tanks and BMP vehicles, which are no longer fully operational, could be used as donors for spare parts, which would be extremely useful for the Armed Forces of Ukraine," wrote an analysis on the Ukrainian portal Defence Express.
South Korea's post-Soviet equipment
According to the report The Military Balance 2024, at the beginning of 2024, the South Korean army had 40 T-80U tanks and the same number of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles.
The T-80U is a variant of the widely used T-80 family. Compared to the base version, the T-80U uses a more powerful engine generating about 932 kilowatts (1,250 horsepower). The main weapon of this machine is a 125 mm smoothbore cannon. Additionally, it is equipped with a 7.62 mm machine gun and a 12.7 mm anti-aircraft machine gun.
Using T-80U and BMP-3 as training targets for drones is a well-thought-out tactic from South Korea's perspective because North Korea predominantly relies on post-Soviet equipment. Ukrainians, however, assess this from their own needs. T-80U and BMP-3 were on Ukraine's list of weapons requested from Seoul, albeit unsuccessfully. "South Korea's defence planning against the North Korean regime does not necessarily rely on the maxim 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend,'" summarized Defence Express analysts, which can be understood about, among others, the dispatch of North Korean troops as support for Putin's army.
