«Steel Front» converts armored vehicles «Kozak» into command posts for the Ukrainian Ground Forces

Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.

The modernized “Kozaks” have become mobile communication and command centers for one of the units of the Ukrainian Ground Forces. Each vehicle is equipped with modern communication systems protected against electronic warfare, autonomous power supply systems, and automated workplaces. In total, the company invested about 2 million UAH in re-equipping the vehicles.

These vehicles are designed to ensure constant communication and coordination at the tactical level, regardless of weather, season or operational mode – whether on the move or stationary. Thanks to robust armor and large interior space, “Kozak” not only transports equipment but also provides comfortable working conditions for the team.

“The most advanced technological stuffing allows the commander to monitor the battlefield situation in real time, consolidating data from drone reconnaissance and other systems. Objective and comprehensive information enables the command to make timely decisions aimed at increasing the effectiveness of units and saving lives of soldiers”, commented Deputy Company Commander Dmytro.

According to the military personnel, the modernization was based not on theoretical assumptions, but on real wartime experience. The vehicles’ equipment was selected to maximize crew protection and ensure effective operation in field conditions.

“Modern war is a war of technological solutions, so such command complexes are indispensable for our army”, said Metinvest’s Chief Operating Officer Oleksandr Myronenko.

Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front is a large-scale initiative aimed at supporting Ukrainian military. Launched at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, it brought together SCM group companies (including Metinvest, DTEK, and Ukrtelecom) to create effective assistance for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Earlier, Bukvy reported how, as part of the initiative “Steel Front”, Ukrainian experts developed an innovative protective shield for Patriot and Iris-T SLM air defense command modules in just 1,5 months. This solution became another step in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capability aimed at protecting key air defense components from fragmentation damage. The project was developed from scratch and has already saved several Patriots that protect Ukraine’s sky against enemy missiles and drones.

Also, thanks to Metinvest and within the framework of “Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front”, steel screens were developed to protect Ukrainian armored vehicles. Each piece of armor is tailored to the specific model and mission of the vehicle. Most importantly, the armor has been tested in real combat conditions and has been improved based on feedback from the field. Now, these screens are saving not only equipment but, most importantly, the lives of Ukrainian defenders.

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