Ukrainian power companies buy 50 M113 APCs for border guards

The Ukrainian Ministry of Energy together with enterprises of the fuel and energy industry of Ukraine have purchased M113 armored personnel carriers for the “Steel Border” brigade.

The State Border Service made the announcement on Saturday, September 2.

Tracked APCs are already helping border guards destroy Russian invaders. They are also used for medical evacuation.

23 enterprises contributed to help the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in the purchase of armored vehicles.

These are, in particular, the companies of the nuclear, oil and gas, electricity and coal industries, as well as the companies of the distribution system operators and the gas transmission system.

Herman Halushchenko, Minister of Energy of Ukraine, said that the М113 was purchased in one of the European countries. The vehicles had been in storage and were modernized before being sent to Ukraine.

During a meeting with representatives of the companies, the Head of the State Border Service Serhii Deineko thanked them for their help in the purchase of the armored vehicles, which were already participating in the fight against the enemy in the Kharkiv and Luhansk regions.

“Sincere words of gratitude to your labor collectives who responded to our request and supported us. Thanks to you, our guys received good powerful equipment – American М113 APCs that help destroy the enemy, and are also used for medical evacuation,” he said.

According to Deineko, tracked armored personnel carriers have high passability and will help border guards move in the most difficult weather conditions. He also presented the representatives of energy companies that helped purchase 50 М113 APCs with awards for significant contribution to the Victory.

The largest contribution of UAH 300 million was made by the nuclear company (SE «NNEGC «Energoatom»), while NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, PJSC Ukrhydroenergo, PJSC Ukrnafta, and LLC Gas TSO of Ukraine helped in the amount of more than UAH 100 million.

М113 armored personnel carrier

The M113 armored personnel carrier is the main tracked armored personnel carrier, which has been long in service with mechanized troops of the United States Army and many armies of other countries of the world. The crew of the APC consists of two people: the driver and the commander. The vehicle is capable of carrying up to 11 amphibious assault personnel. Also, several dozen specialized vehicles were created on the basis of the armored personnel carrier. For the most part, M113 are used to transport infantry, provisions, weapons and ammunition to the front line, as well as for evacuation purposes.

In general, the Defense Forces of Ukraine are armed with hundreds of M113 armored personnel carriers, which supplied Ukraine with military assistance from the United States and European countries.