Why is Russia losing so much military equipment to Ukraine?

Ukraine says Russia has lost about 1,200 tanks, but that figure has not been independently confirmed. However, the military blog, Oryx, which collects losses of Russian military equipment in Ukraine, based on photos sent from the front line, says Russia has lost 664 tanks as of May 13 and about 3,000 other armored vehicles and equipment. severe.

Abandoned equipment

Of the 664 tanks that Russia has lost in Ukraine, 283 have been abandoned or captured. According to military analysts, this means a lot for operations: Poor intelligence has made Russian commanding officers unable to properly plan their offensive operations. Even the core of military personnel consists mainly of recruits – about 80 percent – who are not professionally trained to use the equipment.

The occupying forces also hoped that the Ukrainians would welcome them with open arms, which did not happen. The large number of casualties in the first days and weeks of the occupation has affected the morale of Russian troops, who have often fled their positions, leaving behind equipment.

In fact, so much Russian military equipment has been abandoned that the Ukrainian authorities have stated that anyone in possession of such equipment does not need to declare it for tax purposes.

Amateur videos of Russian tanks and other armored vehicles being towed through fields and villages by Ukrainian tractors have become increasingly viral on social media.

Military vehicles are usually abandoned, damaged or without fuel. They are often handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces, fighting against the Russian occupation.

Destroyed equipment

As for Russian equipment lost in the fighting, the war in Ukraine has exposed major flaws in them, as well as outdated or low-quality materials.

Tank turrets that are blown up indicate a design problem known as the “Jack-in-the-box” defect. Many Russian tanks, including the T-72, which was widely used in the Russian occupation of Ukraine, have an automated ammunition system known as “carry and load”. The shells are placed in a ring inside the turret and the ammunition is stored under the tank operators. And, when the enemy shot hits a vulnerable place – e.g. the upper part of the tank, where the armature is thinner – the ammunition ring can explode and start a chain reaction, which evaporates the crew and explodes the tank turret.

The Russian army operates through independent combat units, known as tactical groups of battalions, consisting of tanks, infantry and artillery.

These units are designed to attack quickly and consist of many armored vehicles, but have few infantry to provide protection if the armored column is attacked.

Russian units can do a lot of damage, but Ukraine’s effective tactics, along with anti-tank weapons provided by the West, have dealt Russia a major blow.

Anti-tank weapons provided to Ukraine by Western countries

Many Russian tanks are equipped with reactive armor, designed to withstand missile strikes. However, US-made Javelin missiles are equipped with two warheads: the first removes the reactive armor, while the second penetrates the tank.

Other weapons have proven very effective against Russian equipment. Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone has unique capabilities to detect and identify targets from a distance of up to 50 kilometers.

So far, more than 30 countries have provided financial and military assistance to Ukraine. Supplies have been limited to weapons, ammunition and defense equipment, such as anti-tank and anti-aircraft systems, as NATO members fear the provision of heavier offensive equipment, such as fighter jets, could lead to in a direct conflict with Russia.

Prior to the invasion of Ukraine, the Russian military had the reputation of being a strong, effective, and technologically advanced army. It has achieved this reputation mainly through its involvement in the war in Syria.

But in this new theater of war, the Ukrainian army, though smaller, has seriously damaged its reputation / REL