Headline: Russia scales back use of armored vehicles in Ukraine, ISW reports
Subheadline: Analysts suggest Russian forces are conserving equipment amid dwindling Soviet-era stocks
Body:
Russia’s invading forces have been using less armored vehicles in recent weeks, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), cited by the Ukrainian news outlet 24 Канал.
The reduction in the use of armored vehicles may be a strategic decision to preserve these assets, as Russia’s Soviet-era stockpiles diminish, ISW analysts suggested. Ukrainian military sources report a decrease in the use of armor and mechanized attacks, particularly on the Kurakhove front, following significant losses of vehicles in October and November 2024.
A brigade spokesperson operating on the Kurakhove front revealed that Russian forces have been relying more heavily on infantry for assaults, using armored vehicles primarily for fire support. In a separate development, The New York Times reported that Russian forces are increasingly employing electric scooters, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles in their attacks on the eastern front, potentially as a means to compensate for armored vehicle losses.
ISW analysts also highlighted that Russian forces might encounter disadvantages when pursuing mechanized attacks in urban environments like Kurakhove and Pokrovsk, compared to the smaller villages and open fields where they initially advanced in 2024.
Moreover, the Institute for the Study of War noted that Ukrainian defenders have disabled or destroyed over 3,000 Russian tanks and nearly 9,000 armored combat vehicles in 2024. As Russia continues to deplete its Soviet-era stockpiles and production rates struggle to keep pace with losses, analysts warn that maintaining current annual loss rates could become unsustainable for Russian military forces by 2025.
Internal Link: Explore the satellite images showing Russia’s tank losses
Image: Satellite images revealed by the UK Ministry of Defence
