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Russia Deploys Soviet-Era Tanks to the Front Lines Amid Severe Equipment Shortage

Daniel Kim Views  

Russia\'s T90M tank. / Yonhap News
Russia’s T90M tank / Yonhap News

The Russian military is now deploying vintage Soviet-era tanks out of desperation. The tanks used initially as movie props, are being deployed to the Ukrainian front lines as a significant portion of its armored fleet has been lost in the ongoing conflict.

On Saturday, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported that the head of Mosfilm, Russia’s largest film studio, met with President Vladimir Putin last month to arrange the transfer of over fifty military vehicles, including tanks from the 1950s to the armed forces. Once props in Soviet-era films, the vehicles were initially donated by the USSR’s Defense Ministry for cinematic use in the 1960s.

The deployment of these decades-old armored vehicles underscores the severe equipment shortage plaguing Russian forces.

Intelligence reports suggest that Russia has lost more than 11,000 military vehicles, including approximately 3,600 tanks, during the thirty-four-month conflict. This staggering loss equals roughly fifteen years of pre-war production. Current estimates indicate Russia’s operational tank force has dwindled to 2,600 units.

Analysts note that despite these setbacks, Russia adapts to sanctions with surprising agility. The WSJ reports that the Russian military is restoring Soviet-era equipment and ramping up defense spending to minimize tank losses.

The Soviet-era tanks recently deployed by Russian forces were likely part of a massive production effort in anticipation of a potential NATO conflict before the Soviet Union’s collapse.

Based on current production capabilities, experts assess that Russia has enough tanks to sustain combat operations for at least two more years.

The Soviet-era tanks, manufactured in the 1960s and 1970s, require several weeks of maintenance before they can be battle-ready.

Russian forces have adjusted their tactics to protect their remaining armored assets. Tanks are being used more cautiously, typically under cover and in coordination with infantry units on the front lines. While this strategy has helped preserve some armored resources, it has led to a troubling rise in troop casualties. Reports indicate that daily losses have surged to about 1,000 soldiers this fall, compared to fewer than 300 per day in 2022.

Michael Kofman, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, observed that Russia is adapting its strategy to prolong the conflict. He warned that Ukraine cannot afford to wait for Russia’s equipment reserves to be depleted naturally.

Daniel Kim
content@viewusglobal.com

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