Russia's Tank Assault Fiasco And Ukraine's Armor Issues (Analysis)

It’s not a secret that russia suffered tremendous losses in heavy armor during the russo-Ukraine war (only according Oryx military portal as of April 27 they lost 571 tanks). The given data on this website (table below) allows to find out how many enemy tanks were lost according to their type and number along with their “fate” (destroyed, damaged, captured).

Russian tanks lost in the war with Ukraine

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Upgraded 185 T-72B3/B3M are the majority of lost tanks (32% of all losses). On the one hand, such high losses are explained by the fact that the T-72B3/B3M are the most massive in the war with Ukraine. The units from Western Military District of russia are equipped with them (47^th Guards Tank Division, also 2^nd, 3^rd and 18^th Guards Motor Rifle Division and 138^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade), Southern Military District of Russia (20^th, 42^nd and 150^th Guards Motor Rifle Division, 205^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, 126^th Coastal Defense Brigade, 4^th and 7^th Military Base), Central Military District of Russia (90^th Guards Tank Division, 21^st and 74^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade, 201^st Military Base) and Eastern Military District (36^th and 37^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade) along with 7^th and 76^th Guards Air Assault Division.

On the other hand, russia’s experts can’t explain such losses of T-72B3 and especially T-72B3M. These tanks were official stated to have high level of defense. However, only 89 units of T-72B3/T-72B3M (48%) were destroyed or damaged. 96 units (52%) were abandoned or captured, though. Russia’s experts assume, that the reason for that is fear and uncertainty about survivability of their tanks, their technical imperfections, low reliability.

One more important reason turned out to be poor logistics and technical supply – tanks were abandoned, in case they broke down or had no fuel. Not willing to fight is the only reason why the discovered tanks had the fuel fused deliberately.

In the second place were 170 non-upgraded T-72 tanks (104 T-72B, 41 T-72BM, 14 T-72A, 8 T-72AV, 3 T-72BA). It’s 30% of all lost tanks. Such obsolete tanks are fought for russia. The units from Western Military District of russia are equipped with them (2^nd, 3^rd and 144^th Guards Motor Rifle Division), Southern Military District of russia (150^th Guards Motor Rifle Division and 102^nd Military Base), Central Military District (90^th Guards Tank Division, 21^st and 35^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade), as well as units of 1^st and 2^nd Army Corps of so-called DPR and LPR.

98 older models of T-72 were destroyed and damaged (58%), and 72 (42%) were abandoned and captured. This can be explained by better reliability of older models of T-72.

In third place in terms of losses were 108 T-80 (64 T-80U, 20 T-80BV, 18 modernized T-80BVM, 4 T-80UE1, 2 Commander T-80UK and 1 experimental T-80UM2). This is 19% of all lost tanks. The units from Western Military District of russia are equipped with them (4^th Guards Tank Division, 200^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade), Eastern Military District (38^th, 39^th, 57^th, 64^th and 69^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade plus 40^th an 155^th Separate Marine Brigade). Including T-80U/UE1/UK/UM2 which were only at 4^th Guards Tank Division, and T-80BVM were in 4^th, 64^th and 200^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade. There were 40 units of T-80 (37%) destroyed or damaged and 68 units (63%) abandoned or captured. This can be explained by the high fuel consumption of the T-80 and the reluctance to fight.

In fourth place in terms of losses were 76 tanks of unknown types (13% of lost tanks). 73 of them (96%) were destroyed and damaged, and 3 (4%) were abandoned and captured. Probably most of them were so damaged that it was impossible to determine the type.

In fifth place in terms of losses were 18 T-90A (3% of lost tanks). The units from Western Military District are equipped with them (2^nd Guards Motor Rifle Division and 27^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade) and Southern Military District (19^th, 20^th and 136^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade). 27^th Separate Motor Rifle Brigade also has T-90M and T-14, but these tanks haven’t been applied on the battlefield. 5 T-90A (28%) destroyed, 13 (72%) abandoned and captured. This can only be explained by the reluctance to fight.

In sixth place in terms of losses were 14 T-64BV (3% of lost tanks). The 1^st and 2^nd Army Corps of so-called DPR and LPR are equipped with them. 10 of them (71%) were destroyed and damaged, and 4 (29%) were captured. Obviously, their crews were trained better.

Overall, in the Armed Forces of russia, so-called DPR and LPR among 571 lost tanks, 307 (54%) were destroyed and damaged, and 264 (46%) were abandoned and captured. And here the conclusions which were made about the T-72B3/B3M tanks are quite the same (see above).

For comparison, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost 139 tanks during the same period (57 destroyed, 1 damaged, 8 abandoned, 73 captured). So, the Armed Forces of Ukraine lost four times fewer tanks than the Armed Forces of russia, so-called DPR and LPR altogether. 58 (42%) of the 139 lost tanks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed and damaged, and 81 (58%) were abandoned and captured. 111 T-64s (107 T-64BV, 1 T-64B1M, 1 T-64BM, 1 T-64BM2), 16 T-72 (1 T-72, 2 T-72AB, 6 T-72B, 7 T-72AMT), 5 T-80BV and 8 tanks of unknown types were lost. It means, that only 10 modernized tanks (3 T-64B1M/BM-BM2 and 7 T-72AMT) or 7% were lost. This explains why 58% of Ukrainian tanks were abandoned and captured: most of them were obsolete, worn out and non-upgraded models.

Wearing out and aging of the tank fleet of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is a big problem for them (as well as the insufficient number of tanks). Tanks are also needed in defense, but when the Armed Forces of Ukraine go on the offensive to liberate our occupied lands, they will need a lot of tanks (including infantry fighting vehicles), which would be more efficient than russia's.

European NATO countries have reduced their tank fleets, so only the United States can help. They have 2509 Abrams tanks (750 M1A1SA, 1605 M1A2 SEPv2, 154 M1A2C) and 2500 IFV/CRV M2A2/A3 Bradley. A significant part of them is in storage. US assistance with tanks and infantry fighting vehicles will be critical for Ukraine.

Yuriy BARASH, for Defense Express

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