Title: Russia‘s Tank Losses: A Setback foradvance on Key Fronts
The Russian military‘s significant losses in armored vehicles over the past year could slow its offensive on certain sections of the frontline, according to analysts monitoring Russian military facilities via satellite imagery.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) analyzed the latest figures, which reveal a stark drop in Russia’s tank, armored personnel carrier (APC), and infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) stocks. As of now, the Russian military retains only 47% of its pre-war tank stocks, 52% of its APCs, and 45% of its IFVs.
ISW’s assessment suggests that the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has committed the majority of its elite T-90 and T-80 tanks to combat, prioritizing their use rather than preserving them for future battles. However, Russia maintains significant reserves of older tank models like the T-54/55, T-62/64, and T-72, which may not be battle-ready due to poor storage conditions and inactivity.
Analysts note that it’s challenging to verify the vehicles’ technical condition via satellite imagery alone. Moreover, Russia could have additional tanks and armored vehicles stored in covered facilities, which may not be visible from space.
Despite these losses, Russian forces have launched sporadic mechanized attacks. In late October and December, Russia deployed battalion-sized units in mechanized assaults near Severodonetsk and Kupiansk, respectively. However, analysts argue that these operations occur in areas with lower fire intensities compared to sectors near Pokrovsk and Kupiansk.
Experts speculate that Russia may struggle to re-equip its forward units due to the Russian military command’s reluctance to withdraw troops for recovery and restoration, potentially hampering its offensive momentum on priority frontline sectors.
Earlier this month, Dialog.UA reported that President Vladimir Putin might have abandoned plans to capture Pokrovsk, focusing instead on swift advancement toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast borders. Meanwhile, Russia’s "latest" rocket, the "Oreshnik," was recently exposed as not as novel as initially presented.
Author: Dmitriy Mironenko
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