Ukrainian Armed Forces have listed two captured russian T-90M tanks, edition 2022, as part of their inventory, a bureaucratic procedure confirming the fact these weapons can now be used in battles against their former owners, or, alternatively, that they are still due for repairs but will certainly be used as combat units rather than spare parts donors.
In addition, the Ukrainian Army has listed a T-62M and a T-62MV of the 2022 modification, too. The updates to the arsenals were noticed by ArmyInform, with reference to the Logistics Forces Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Read more: How Many Tanks and Armored Fighting Vehicles Can russia Refurbish Annually, IISS Analysis Reveals
The original article does not feature any photos of these tanks, so the ones above are illustrative, but there is a notable description of these main battle tanks as not visible through thermal imaging system systems which makes them "very unique" among the combat vehicles in their class.
On a note from Defense Express, most likely those tanks were seized by Ukrainian Defense Forces in 2023, and it might look that it took quite long to integrate the tanks into the Ukrainian arsenal. However, we should consider that it's not extraordinary.
For example, several infantry fighting vehicles and large-caliber guns captured during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the Kherson region in September–November 2022 entered service with the new owners only in December 2023.
Nonetheless, even such a time-consuming process as bringing back to life and refurbishing trophies is of vital importance, a vivid example shows: in August 2023, a high-ranking officer at the Logistics Forces Command revealed that Ukraine had only 837 units of captured russian equipment, even though the total number of equipment seized by Ukrainians was estimated over 2,800 units, according to Oryx OSINT community at the time.
One of the reasons for such discrepancy is that many of the vehicles are not repairable, lack special ammunition or components, were recognized unfit to continue operating due to a significant degree of wear and tear, or were lost in combat.
Earlier Defense Express analyzed the weak points of the T-90M uncovered by ArmyInform and tank expert Mykola Salamakha which helped a Ukrainian M2 Bradley demolish one of those advanced russian MBTs on the battlefield.
Read more: Why is russia Using Its T-90S Tanks in the "Indian" Export Configuration in Ukraine?
