A Russian tank clanks down a dirt road. Ukrainian soldiers received intel that the enemy would use
this route to reach their next objective. The Ukrainian soldiers wait to spring their ambush
while they laugh as they see an obsolete Soviet Era tank appear over the crest of
a hill. Since the war began, Ukrainian forces have destroyed or captured hundreds of Russia’s
best tanks. These ancient machines have been brought out of mothball storage to fill out
the ranks of Russia’s armored forces after the devastating loses it saw in the first few months
of fighting. How did Russia find itself in such a predicament, and where have all its tanks gone?
In our scenario, the Ukrainian strike force sights the tank using their FGM-148 Javelin.
At that very moment, the tank comes to a stop. The turret begins to swivel,
facing directly at the Ukrainian strike force. They’ve been spotted.
The commander shouts the order to fire. The Javelin’s missile launches into the
sky. There is a loud click as the T-62 tries to fire, but the shell jams in the
barrel. Time and neglect have rendered the tank almost entirely useless. A few seconds later,
the Javelin falls from the heavens and detonates on top of the Russian tank. Another piece of armor
bites the dust as the Ukrainian soldiers pack up their gear and head to their next target. There
are very practical reasons why Russia has run out of modern tanks and has been forced to use their
Cold War stockpiles to pad their army, we will talk about all of them as this show progresses.
This type of scenario has played out across the Ukrainian battlefield since the invasion
of their country began back in February of 2022. Putin really believed that Russia could
just roll across the border and claim Ukraine as its own, but this is not what happened. At
the beginning of the conflict, Russia boasted that it had over 2,800 tanks. Yet, now we are
seeing old armored vehicles being brought out of storage to replenish the Russian battalions.
Hundreds of Soviet Era tanks have been loaded onto railcars and carried to the front lines
When Russia invaded Ukraine, the main tanks being used were the T-72s which
were already decades old. Newer tanks have also been deployed,
but in nowhere near the same numbers as the T-72. Before the war began, military advisors
warned Putin that if the full might of the Russian military wasn’t deployed in the initial invasion,
they might run into trouble later on, and this is exactly what happened.
The hit-and-run tactics that Ukrainian forces engaged in allowed them to not only destroy
Russian tanks but capture them and repurpose the vehicles for their own use. And as we
quickly approach a year since the conflict began, it’s becoming more and more clear
how much trouble Russia is in. This fact was made abundantly clear when a video surfaced of
the precursor to the T-72 being taken out of storage and deployed to the front lines. The
tank that is now making an appearance in the war is the T-62, which is all but obsolete.
This choice of ancient tank is surprising as Russia has somewhere around
10,000 tanks in storage, many of which are newer than the T-62s. So,
why is Russia bringing one of its oldest tanks out of retirement? The answer to this
question is so embarrassing; even Putin must know how dumb he looks.
The Russians have hundreds and even thousands of T-64s, T-72s, T-80s,
and T-90s, all of which are newer than the T-62s, but that’s the problem. The tanks
have been neglected for so long that the newer models, which have more sophisticated components,
need massive amounts of repairs. However, the T-62s were built using Soviet Era technology
and have fewer electronics and moving parts. The simplicity of the T-62s has allowed some
of them to last for decades without needing the maintenance that modern tanks require. Many of
the more sophisticated tanks that came after the T-62s are believed to be beyond repair.
Another factor that the T-62s have going for them is that Russia has a huge number of them
in storage. The sheer number of these tanks constructed during the height of the Cold War
likely means that at least a few were found without too much corrosion or rust damage.
Even more unfortunate for Russia is the fact that their most advanced tank to date, the T-14 Armata,
has not even begun rolling off the assembly line in any meaningful numbers yet. Several years ago,
Russia planned on purchasing thousands of these tanks to serve as their main armored force in
future conflicts. However, production never began. It’s estimated that Russia has around
40 T-14s fighting in the war, which is not enough to make any meaningful impact. Putin
ordered more tanks to be built, but it is too late. Harsh sanctions and
a lack of resources have brought the T-14’s production to a standstill.
The fact that Russia is now deploying tanks that were starting to be retired in 1975
does not bode well for their war effort. There are several reasons that Vladamir Putin
and his army are now scrambling to find ways to replenish their armored division. Much of
it has to do with Ukrainian doctrine and their refusal to give up their country,
but Russia itself has made some huge mistakes, which they are now paying for dearly.
Things are even worse than they appear for Russia as they begin pulling old tanks out
of deep storage. When tanks like the T-62 were retired, they were put in huge warehouses or
parked outside, where the elements quickly began to corrode them. Even the tanks that
were sealed away in large structures were never taken care of. This means that pickings are slim
as the Russian military scours the thousands of decommissioned tanks for ones that work
well enough to send to the front lines. Russia is currently facing a tank crisis
as they put more retired tanks on the front lines. However, it’s only a matter of time
before this leads to catastrophe, as they will eventually run out of working tanks altogether.
It’s theorized that the Soviet Era tanks are being deployed just long enough for new tanks to
roll off the assembly lines. But as we know, these new tanks may never come. This has led to a real
crisis for the Russian military. It has pulled back and dug in along the territory it already
controls in the Donbas region, so that troop numbers, supplies, and armor can be replenished.
It’s estimated that Ukrainian forces have destroyed at least four Russian tanks a
day since the conflict began. Obviously, on days when there is intense fighting,
more tanks are lost than when there is a lull. However, recent estimates
suggest that the Russian military has lost over 8,400 vehicles and pieces of equipment
since the conflict began. This includes around 1,500 tanks, which have either been completely
destroyed or captured by Ukrainian forces. At this point, Russian military officials
must be incredibly embarrassed and afraid for their lives. Putin does not take too kindly to
failure, and these numbers suggest that the invasion has been a huge failure thus far.
As Russia starts replenishing its battalions with obsolete tanks,
the number of losses will only increase for Russia. Less advanced tanks make easier targets,
which means the Ukrainian military can keep using the same tactics
while simultaneously taking out even more of Russia’s armored divisions.
What makes Ukrainian troops so effective against Russian tanks?
Some of the reasons are pretty obvious, while others are almost unbelievable.
A big part of the Ukrainian military’s success has to do with the quality of their weapons. Ukraine
is by no means fully stocked with the weapons and gear they need. They are constantly pleading with
NATO to send them more military aid, including anti-tank weapons. As the next phase of the war
begins, Ukraine will need to prepare for another Russian push forward. And as things stand now,
it looks like Russia will launch another attack using tanks and artillery after they bombard major
cities and Ukraine's infrastructure with missiles and kamikaze drones.
Thus far, Ukraine has made do with what it has. One of the weapons that have been effective in
reducing the number of Russian tanks on the battlefield is the U.S.-made FGM-148 Javelin.
Since the war began, the United States has supplied Ukrainian forces with over
4,000 Javelins, with more said to be shipped to the country in the coming months. What makes
these weapons so effective against any type of tank is the way that the missile is deployed.
A single Ukrainian soldier can fire a Javalin and destroy a tank. This is pretty staggering as,
without this weapon, it could take a whole unit and some heavy artillery to
stop a Russian tank from rolling across the battlefield. The Javelin’s missile
launches in an ark that allows it to strike the top of a tank where
the armor is the weakest. This means that every time a Javelin is fired in Ukraine,
there is a good chance that it will either immobilize or severely damage a Russian tank.
Even the most advanced tanks that have reactive armor to absorb a missile’s
impact don’t stand a chance against the Javelin. This is because the missiles
are fitted with two warheads. The first detonates to damage the disruptive armor
so that when the second warhead goes off, all of its power goes into the chassis of
the tank. This one-two punch is devastating for any armored vehicle struck by the missile,
which is one of the main reasons Russian tanks are not faring well against Ukrainian troops.
Britain is also sending The Next Generation Light Anti-tank Weapons to Ukraine to supplement the
Javelins that the United States has shipped. The thousands of anti-tank weapons that have
already been distributed to Ukrainian troops have allowed them to put a sizeable dent in
the number of tanks that Putin is able to field. Unfortunately for Russia,
The British NLAWs and U.S. Javelins will be even more effective against their outdated Soviet Era
tanks currently being sent to replenish their dwindling armored divisions on the front lines.
The United States also plans to send a contingent of Switchblade anti-tank drones
to Ukraine in the near future. These kamikaze drones will target Russian tanks and reduce
their numbers even further. The Russians have been using HESA Shahed-136 drones made by the
Iranian company Shahed Aviation Industries to target Ukrainian infrastructure. So,
it will be interesting to see how they like it when their tanks are continuously blown
up by the same technology they’ve used to strike against Ukrainian infrastructure.
Ukrainian troops, high-tech anti-tank weapons, and well-executed missions are
the main reasons why Russia is running out of tanks. Ukrainian soldiers are destroying them
faster than Russia can make them, which is not what Putin expected.
However, there are a few other factors that are leading to the rapid decline in
Russian tank numbers, and the only one that Russia can blame for this is themselves.
Russia’s tactics when using tanks are a mess. The most common makeup for Russian units is
known as a Battalion Tactical Group. This consists of a company of tanks, infantry,
and artillery, which doesn’t seem like a bad combination at first. But Russia has
really messed up the numbers of each within the unit. More often than not, these battalions are
made up of mostly armored vehicles and tanks with a small contingent of troops tacked on
for protection. Battalion Tactical Groups are really good at moving quickly, packing a punch,
and hitting a target hard. However, if they come under attack, they are highly vulnerable.
Ukrainian forces have exploited this flaw in the Russian battle plan by waiting for
a Battalion Tactical Group to pass by and ambushing them. Using Javelins or
other anti-tank measures is relatively easy against these Russian units because
there are no troops to support the armor. Ukrainian infantry can hide within densely
structured areas where tanks can’t maneuver well, which gives them the upper hand.
If Russian commanders included more infantry in the Battalion Tactical Groups, these exposed tanks
might have a chance against Ukraine’s guerilla tactics. This would be highly beneficial for tanks
operating in urban areas or locations where the terrain limits maneuverability. However,
Russia still hasn’t modified its tactics to take these things into consideration. Therefore,
Ukrainian troops continue to incapacitate or destroy Russian tanks that don’t have
the support they need to successfully fight the types of battles being waged in Ukraine.
Along with having tank battalions without the proper support, Russian tactics have another
fatal flaw. Before sending tanks into battle, it’s important to survey the area using drones
or aircraft. However, Russia doesn’t seem to be doing this, which has allowed Ukrainian
troops to get into striking positions along the routes Russian tanks are using.
Ukraine has kept Russia from claiming complete air superiority in the region,
which has definitely helped its tank-destroying efforts. Their units take out several tanks at a
time and then fall back to prepare for the next fight. These hit-and-run tactics are working
like a charm and causing massive losses for the Russians. However, if Russia starts conducting
flyovers before moving their tanks into position, it could save a lot of armor from being lost.
Recent reports by defense intelligence agencies suggest that Russia is moving away from its
traditional Battalion Tactical Groups as they’ve finally realized how ineffective they are. But
it’s too little too late, as the Russian army has already lost hundreds of tanks as a direct
result of using BTGs. It’s unclear why it took so long for Russia to leverage its numbers and
make changes to its unit structure, but it likely has to do with our next point.
Besides good Ukranian tactics and poor Russian tactics,
there is another even more awkward reason why Russia is running out of tanks: incompetence.
Data collection conducted by independent organizations has suggested that somewhere
around half of the tanks Russia has lost during the war have either been abandoned
or captured. Most experts believe this is due to the incompetence of Russian soldiers. To be fair,
it’s not entirely their fault. Many of the Russians fighting in Ukraine
were conscripted just before the invasion and don’t have any battle experience. This
factor on top of very little training, is a recipe for disaster. This has led
to entire tank crews abandoning their vehicles and running for their lives.
The craziest part is that abandoned tanks are not always the result of Ukrainian ambushes
or even any fighting breaking out. Some of the Russian tanks that Ukraine recovered were deserted
because they had run out of fuel. Think about that for a moment. A war machine worth millions
of dollars is left for the enemy to capture just because it ran out of fuel. That brings wartime
incompetence to a whole new level. It’s almost as if Russian soldiers don’t care if they win the
war or not, which may be closer to the truth than Putin or anyone in his government wants to admit.
Last spring, tanks got stuck in the mud as the snow melted. Regardless of the risks,
the Russian high command ordered their tank battalions to push forward in these conditions;
the results were inevitable. Many tanks became bogged down to the point they couldn’t be pulled
out of the muck and were abandoned. So, it appears the incompetency of the Russian military runs all
the way through the ranks. It’s these unbelievably dumb decisions that have led to hundreds of tanks
being captured by Ukraine. And once the ground hardens and the gas tanks are filled up again,
these war machines can be used by Ukrainian forces to fight the very country that built them.
But it’s not just low fuel and bad decisions that have led to dwindling tank numbers.
Since many of the Russian soldiers did not receive the proper training they should have,
tanks have been driven into ditches resulting in their tracks coming off. However,
rather than fixing the problem and making sure the tank doesn’t fall into enemy hands,
Russian soldiers have just left them behind. It’s quickly becoming apparent that the loss
of tanks is as much the fault of the Russians as it is of Ukrainian forces.
Perhaps the most absurd thing of all is that Russian tanks have even been seen driving off
bridges when their operators lost control of the vehicle. In this particular situation,
the tanks can rarely be salvaged, but abandoned Russian equipment has
become so common during the war that the Ukrainian government even issued national
instructions on what citizens should do if they come across abandoned Russian vehicles or gear.
The government was also nice enough to inform their people that any Russian equipment they
confiscate does not need to be declared on their taxes, which is absolutely wild.
The way the Russian military handles their tanks seems more like something
out of a wartime comedy than an actual war. However, the continued invasion of Ukraine
is no laughing matter. As the winter months continue, Ukraine desperately
needs more weapons to fight against the next wave of Russian attacks. Currently,
Russian forces have pulled back to lick their wounds and replenish their numbers.
After months of fighting, more than 100,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or injured.
The Ukrainian people have been battling bravely, but if they do not receive the support they need,
Russia will eventually be able to throw enough men and outdated weapons at them to cause greater
destruction and loss. Right now, we know that Russian tank numbers are so low that they are
bringing Soviet Era tanks out of retirement. These models may be obsolete, but at this point,
Russia doesn’t have a choice. More tanks are being built and will hit the front lines when they are
completed, which is why it’s vital that Ukrainian forces have weapons to defend against them.
Right now, most of the damage being done to Ukrainian infrastructure is by missiles and drones
striking power stations and factories. This has left much of the population without any energy or
heat. The brutal war that Russia has started will not end as long as Vladamir Putin is in power. And
since the psychopathic dictator has a stranglehold on his country and the people in it, the war will
likely continue into the coming months, regardless of if Russia’s tank numbers continue to decline.
The scary thing is that if Russia finds itself running low on tanks and other conventional
weapons, what will they decide to do next? If Putin can’t replenish his battalions with new
or even old tanks, will he consider launching tactical nukes? This is a terrifying thought,
but Vladimir Putin is a terrifying man as he could start a nuclear war at any moment in time.
For right now, Ukrainian troops appear to be able to deal with Russia’s tanks and are even
in control of many of them. Ukrainian tactics and Russian incompetence are the main reasons
why Russia is currently running out of armored vehicles and scrambling to bring
outdated tanks out of storage. When the winter ends and the ground begins
to thaw from the spring sunshine, it will be interesting to see how
many Soviet Era tanks are left stuck in the mud for Ukrainians to find.
Now watch “Why Putin Is Scared to Deploy the T-14 Armata Tank in
Ukraine.” Or check out “Russian Navy Can't Fight Ukraine's New Strategy.”