Ukraine may have lost its sole Swedish Bgbv 90 armored recovery vehicle in a Russian drone strike.

As reported by Lost Armour on January 24, 2025, Ukraine may have lost a rare Swedish-made Bärgningsbandvagn 90 (Bgbv 90) armored recovery vehicle following a Russian FPV drone strike near the border of the Kursk and Sumy regions. If repairable, the vehicle may be salvaged and returned to service, as has been the case with other battlefield-damaged ARVs. However, if the damage is irreparable, Ukraine could face challenges replacing the vehicle, given the limited number of Bgbv 90s in existence. Sweden has not disclosed how many of these vehicles it provided to Ukraine, and given its own defense needs, further transfers may be unlikely.
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The presence of the Swedish-made Bgbv 90 ARV near the Sumy region suggests that Ukraine has been using the vehicle in cross-border raid operations along the border with Russia’s Kursk region, which require the rapid retrieval of damaged equipment. (Picture source: Telegram/Lost Armour and Ointres)

The presence of the Bgbv 90 near the Sumy region suggests that Ukraine has been using the vehicle in operations along the border with Russia’s Kursk region. Reports indicate that Ukrainian forces have been conducting cross-border raids and engaging in artillery duels in the area, requiring the rapid retrieval of damaged equipment. The Bgbv 90’s ability to extract disabled vehicles under fire, deploy smoke screens for concealment, and perform on-the-spot repairs makes it a valuable asset for such missions.

Sweden did not publicly announce the transfer of the Bgbv 90 to Ukraine, as the Swedish-made ARV’s presence was first documented near Lyman in the Donetsk region in July 2023 through open-source imagery. Later, it was seen in the Sumy region near the Russian border, equipped with Barracuda camouflage netting. The Bgbv 90 assigned to Ukraine was likely intended to support the 21st Mechanized Brigade, which received a package of Swedish-supplied CV90 IFVs, Stridsvagn 122 tanks, and Archer self-propelled howitzers. This brigade has been positioned near Kreminna in northeastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have conducted several attacks aimed at diverting Ukrainian efforts from other operational areas. The loss of the Bgbv 90 could impact the brigade’s ability to rapidly recover disabled combat vehicles, a crucial capability for sustaining operational effectiveness.

The Bgbv 90 was developed in the 1990s as part of the Stridsfordon 90 (CV90) family by Hägglunds, now a subsidiary of BAE Systems. It was designed to recover and tow other CV90 variants and vehicles of similar weight. Sweden procured 26 units, integrating them at a rate of one per Strf 90 company within mechanized battalions. In 2016, the Swedish government initiated a refurbishment program to extend the service life of these vehicles until at least 2030. This included upgrades to communications, navigation systems, and battlefield management equipment, as well as modifications for improved operational capabilities. Some units were later upgraded with additional armor and air conditioning for international operations, including service in Afghanistan.

The Bärgningsbandvagn 90 (Bgbv 90) armored recovery vehicle is designed to tow and repair armored vehicles under battlefield conditions. Unlike larger recovery vehicles such as the Büffel ARV, the Bgbv 90 offers advantages in maneuverability, making it particularly suited for operations in urban and forested environments. The 41-ton vehicle is equipped with two nine-ton capstan winches that, when combined in a four-way pulley system, provide a maximum pulling force of 72 tons. Additionally, it features a stabilizing dozer blade installed at the front for ground anchoring and limited earthmoving tasks. A rear-mounted lifting crane with a capacity of 800 kg is used for component removal and repositioning. Additional onboard equipment includes repair tools for battlefield maintenance, including the replacement of turrets or engines, a GPS-based navigation system, and communications systems.

The Bgbv 90 has a combat weight of 23.2 tons, a length of 7.9 meters, a width of 3.17 meters, and a height of 2.65 meters. It is powered by a Scania DSI14 diesel engine producing 550 horsepower, with a maximum speed of 70 km/h and an operational range of 390 km. It is capable of wading through water up to 1.4 meters deep and climbing gradients of up to 30 degrees. The vehicle retains the armor protection of the CV90, with resistance against 30 mm projectiles in the frontal arc and 14.5 mm rounds around the hull. For self-defense, it is armed with a 7.62 mm m/39C machine gun mounted in a turret and is fitted with six Galix smoke grenade launchers.

Prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine operated approximately 36 Soviet-era armored recovery vehicles (ARVs), including BTS-4, BREM-1, and BREM-2 models, supporting T-72 and BMP-series vehicles. These were used to maintain the operational readiness of Ukraine’s armored units. Since the escalation of the conflict, Ukraine has received additional ARVs from Western countries, including 21 Bergepanzer 2 from Germany, Büffel ARVs from Germany and Canada, M88A2 Hercules and M984A4 HEMTT from the United States, Challenger ARVs and FV106 Samson from the United Kingdom, Bärgningsbandvagn 90 from Sweden, and YPR-806 from the Netherlands.

Norway pledged four NM189 Ingeniørpanservogns, and the Czech Republic supplied at least one VT-72B. Ukraine has also converted captured Russian T-62 tanks into recovery vehicles. Domestically, Ukraine operates a limited number of BREM-84 "Atlet," BREM-4K, and BREM-4RM. Additional ARVs include the MT-T Aeneas based on the T-64 chassis, at least one BREM-Ch captured from Russian forces, two Bergepanzer 3 from Germany, eight M88 from the United States, five FV106 Samson from the UK, and 104 M1089A1P2 wreckers. The need for ARVs remains high, as modern armored vehicles are often damaged rather than destroyed, requiring recovery and repair.