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Forgotten “Sister” of Ukraine’s T-84 Oplot Tank Resurfaces on the Battlefield

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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
The Ukrainian BREM-84 “Athlete” armored recovery vehicle during field training in winter conditions. (Source: Defense Express)
The Ukrainian BREM-84 “Athlete” armored recovery vehicle during field training in winter conditions. (Source: Defense Express)

The Ukrainian-built BREM-84 Athlete—a rare armored recovery vehicle developed on the same chassis as the BM Oplot main battle tank—continues to serve with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Only one such vehicle is known to exist in the country, according to Defense Express on November 3.

The recently surfaced footage shows the Athlete participating in what appears to be field training or the preparation of defensive positions.

As Defense Express notes, the vehicle likely belongs to the Military Institute of Tank Forces at the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute.”

Beyond Ukraine, two additional BREM-84 vehicles are reportedly in service with the Royal Thai Army, which also operates 49 Ukrainian-made Oplot tanks.

The Athlete was designed for the evacuation and towing of damaged or immobilized armored vehicles, as well as for performing welding, earthmoving, and repair tasks.

It can carry spare parts and equipment, and is equipped with a winch and a crane capable of replacing tank turrets, engines, and transmissions.

According to Defense Express, Ukraine never began large-scale production of the BREM-84. Like the Oplot tank itself, the project was sidelined due to financial constraints and a strategic shift toward refurbishing and modernizing existing Soviet-era platforms rather than building new vehicles from scratch.

With most legacy armored stocks now depleted, Ukraine’s need for specialized recovery vehicles remains acute. Some of these needs are currently met through military aid from international partners or by converting damaged tanks for recovery purposes.

Ukrainian troops operate the crane system on the BREM-84 “Athlete” armored recovery vehicle during field maintenance drills. (Source: Defense Express)
Ukrainian troops operate the crane system on the BREM-84 “Athlete” armored recovery vehicle during field maintenance drills. (Source: Defense Express)

However, Defense Express concludes that unless a decision is made to resume Oplot tank production, restarting Athlete manufacturing remains unlikely.

Given current defense priorities—such as drones, air defense systems, and long-range strike capabilities—the sole BREM-84 Athlete may remain the only example of its kind in Ukraine.

Earlier, Ukrainian armored vehicles relied on spaced armor to defend against RPGs—now they’re being retrofitted with mesh cages to stop FPV drones. The latest BTR-3 upgrades feature low-profile anti-drone grids designed to disrupt incoming UAVs without limiting crew access, reflecting a tactical shift driven by modern battlefield threats.

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