Belarusian Vityaz special unit uses the captured Ukrainian Kozak-5 armored vehicle

23 July, 2024 Kozak-5 armored vehicle in use by "Vityaz" special unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Belarus, July 2024 Belarusian operators of the Vityaz special unit are using a captured Ukrainian Kozak-5 armored vehicle. The Telegram channel of the Belarusian Ministry of Internal Affairs published a photo report with the vehicle.

The Ukrainian Kozak-5 armored personnel was demonstrated in use during a solemn event dedicated to the completion of the combat coordination of the Vityaz special purpose unit. The armored vehicle was probably used by a training center to train the newly formed unit and is not in service with the unit. The Ukrainian Kozak-5 was not supplied to Belarus.

It could have entered the country along with the retreating Russian military from the Kyiv region, who could have left some of the trophy equipment before redeploying. It is also possible that it could have entered the country later in 2023, along with units of the Wagner PMC, which were redeployed there after the failed Prigozhin coup. It is reported that at the time of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the State Border Guard Service and the National Guard of Ukraine have been using these armored vehicles.

At the same time, the military received only the older Kozak-2M model. The editorial office has learned from representatives of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine that during the first months of the full-scale invasion, the border guard units did not lose or destroy armored combat vehicles in the defense of the Kyiv region. In September 2023, Militarnyi reported that the Belarusian territorial defense used a seized Ukrainian-made KrAZ Cobra during exercises.

The armored vehicle, which had been repainted black, was spotted at the Osipovitski training ground, which belongs to the 51st Guards Artillery Brigade.

During the exercises, the Belarusian terrorist defense practiced blocking and destroying sabotage and reconnaissance groups on rough terrain.

Belarusian military personnel and KrAZ Cobra armored vehicle.

Photo from social media

In April of this year, the 225th Separate Assault Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine received a batch of 40 Kozak-2M1 and Kozak-5 armored vehicles.