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«Сome Back Alive» purchased 11 armored vehicles for the 36th Marine Brigade

The “Come Back Alive” Foundation implemented a new large-scale project. Thanks to the donations of benefactors, the organization purchased 11 armored vehicles for the 36th Marine Brigade, which recovered after the defense of Mariupol. The total price of the vehicles is 2,321 million euros.

The Foundation purchased abroad 11 LC79 APC-SH Fighter2 armored vehicles. These vehicles are made in the USA based on the Toyota Land Cruiser 79. Armored SUVs meet the requirements of the European Committee for Standardization (CEN) and have a BR6 level of protection.

“The request from the military for equipment, such as special armored vehicles, appeared immediately after the start of a full-scale invasion. The request was massive since the Armed Forces have grown many times by Territorial defense, motorized infantry brigades, and the Reserve Corp Brigades. We tried to purchase armored vehicles through one of the Ukrainian special exporters in March. Unfortunately, these two deals failed. We decided to implement the third one on our own. The Foundation received permits to buy weapons and double-purpose goods for that purpose. As we can see, finally, 11 vehicles, which is the company kit, have been successfully brought to Ukraine. These vehicles are immediately going to the frontline”, says Taras Chmut, the Head of Come Back Alive Foundation.

The cars can withstand 5.56x45mm, 5.45x39mm, 7.62×39, and 7.62x51mm bullets at a distance of at least 10 meters. Also, they can survive the explosion of two DM51 hand grenades.

“These armored vehicles were the first military goods which were issued for “Come Back Alive” at the State Export Control Service. With many people’s support, these armored cars stimulated me to push through changes in the Tax and Customs Codes. I, as well as the Foundation, dived into a completely unknown business with these vehicles. It was the most difficult deal for me, and the entire organization should remember these armored cars because our work in this field started with them,” Ruslana Velychko, a “Come Back Alive” volunteer, first deputy executive director of the “Ukrainian Veterans Foundation,” lawyer comments.

In addition, the Fighter2 has a turret for weapons, including machine guns and automatic grenade launchers, similar to the American Mk.19. It also can carry six people in the landing compartment. The armored vehicle is equipped with a reinforced suspension and a 4.5-liter eight-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine with a capacity of 195 horsepower, which provides a maximum speed of 100 km/h. The armored car has two protected fuel tanks of 90 liters each and a range of 800 km.

All 11 Fighter2 vehicles will be transferred to the 36th Marine Brigade, which participated in the defense of Mariupol and the Azovstal plant.

“The Foundation`s team is handing over these armored cars to the 36th Marine Brigade, which, unfortunately, lost all its armored vehicles and many of its men in the battle for Mariupol. So we decided to join the reinforcement of this legendary unit of the Ukrainian army. In addition to the vehicles given to the marines by the state, we strengthen the 36th brigade with 11 light armored cars,” says Andriy Rymaruk, a Head of the military department of the Foundation.

According to him, these armored vehicles will be helpful to the marines, especially considering that the brigade is taking part in combat operations again.

“The foundation supplies the army with a lot of new pickup trucks. These are vehicles for troop mobility. The next level is special armored vehicles. The request for such cars from the military is huge. Unfortunately, the price is also quite high, so we are limited resources. Nevertheless, the “Come Back Alive” team will continue to look for opportunities to purchase new pickup trucks, armored cars, and possibly more protected models, just like MRAPs and armored personnel carriers. Whether wheeled or tracked, this type of vehicle has significantly greater potential on the battlefield,” Taras Chmut says.

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