Russia Has Lost 3,000 Tanks, But Can Sustain Losses For Years: Institute

Russia has suffered more tank losses than all the rich European countries combined on the front lines. However, this figure highlights the extent to which the Ukrainian military was able to wage a war of attrition on the Russian invaders and the usefulness of modern Western anti-tank weapons, which were provided to Kiev in large quantities by Kiev’s sponsors.

However, the Russian military has not yet seen its tank forces depleted by these heavy losses and continues to bring in more equipment. “Russia’s losses were enormous…” Giegerich said. [but] Russia sometimes took equipment out of storage and sent it into battle at a rate of 100 vehicles a month. Russia will be able to maintain it for another two or three years. ” The IISS handout on these numbers further points out that the two- to three-year estimates may be conservative and could continue to make up losses “for much longer.”

Although Russia has a large number of tanks available to its armed forces, its reliance on refurbished Soviet-era tanks means that the quality of tanks needed for combat is decreasing. ing. “Even before the war, Russia had to sacrifice desired quality for quantity, especially in land-based weapons systems,” said Henry Boyd of the institute.

“From 2022 onwards, things are getting even worse for them, as we see more and more older designs being pulled from shelves. Russia has successfully reactivated about 1,200 tanks this year, according to the IISS.

Glenn Grant of the Baltic Sea Security Foundation said the T-54/55 should not be dismissed. The bullets from that gun will destroy the side of the building. ” https://t.co/hRjihT5noh

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Avdiivka, Ukraine – December 31: A Ukrainian tank is destroyed by artillery fire in Avdiivka, Ukraine, on December 31, 2023. The remaining residents of Avdiivka live in the basements of houses, relying on humanitarian aid. The city is facing attacks from three sides, including continuous bombing by Russian forces. (Photo by Pierre Crome/Getty Images)

The IISS figures contradict Ukraine’s own claims of battlefield victories. Kiev claims in state media bulletins that it has destroyed around 6,500 Russian tanks and more than 12,000 armored vehicles so far in the war. Ukraine also claims to have “eliminated” nearly 400,000 “Russian invaders”, or soldiers, over the course of the conflict.

Ukraine is also suffering its own losses. But Giegerich said Ukraine currently has an advantage because its reinforcements are coming from NATO stockpiles, while Russia is withdrawing supplies from Soviet-era rail depots as the quality of its front lines deteriorates. While it may be surplus equipment from the Cold War, Ukraine also receives large amounts of modern NATO supplies, improving overall quality “at the cost of more logistical complexity.”

Thanks to the donations, the IISS estimates that Ukraine’s supply of tanks and armored vehicles is also at or above the level at the start of the war, but “the status of the evolution of Ukraine’s ground forces equipment is also uncertain and “In some cases, it’s even more opaque,” as open-source images of battlefield losses are biased in favor of Russia. ”

Also important is the relative ability of Russia and the Greater West to maintain the pace of deliveries of “new” equipment for the Ukraine war. Giegerich said the Western sanctions regime against Russia “is like a blunt weapon, often taking years to take effect,” and that Russia’s transition to a wartime economy “has had consequences.” Stated.

Britain warns Western countries are running out of weapons to give to Ukrainehttps://t.co/cO1fETsRAa

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KYIV, UKRAINE – AUGUST 24: A woman gives the middle finger to a destroyed Russian tank on display on Khreshchatyk Street during an exhibition on August 24, 2023 in Kyiv, Ukraine. On August 24, Ukraine celebrates its declaration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. For the second year since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Ukraine has canceled all solemn events and instead holds “parades” of destroyed enemy military equipment. (Photo credit: Oleksii Samsonov/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, in Europe, the European Union’s promise to ship one million artillery shells to Ukraine by next month appears to have failed, even as defense industries around the world are operating at full capacity. This has led to a huge backlog of orders. “Governments and industry are unprepared for war and are struggling to respond. Western governments now realize that they have dangerously reduced the ability to equip their militaries. ” Giegerich said.

The comments echo those of European military and political leaders who have warned of the possibility of direct conflict with Russia. As previously reported:

…NATO’s highest-ranking military personnel [said] This month, European societies need to prepare for war, and if a conflict does occur, it will not be a distant, secluded event handled by professional soldiers, but rather a “society-wide event” with civilian participation. Ukraine incident.

In his gloomy assessment, the top official said: “What is not happening in our society is an understanding that it is more than just the military that needs to be able to operate in conflicts and wars. Whether we like it or not, society as a whole needs to be involved. …People need to understand that they have a role to play. Society is part of the solution…To ensure survival for the first 36 hours, water, a radio with batteries, You need a flashlight with batteries. It’s simple stuff like that, but it starts there.”

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Useless tank…https://t.co/JynmVaQaRq

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