How Many Russian Tanks Does Ukraine Have?
Since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, the number and state of Russian tanks located within the country have been the subject of much debate and misinformation. This article aims to clarify the current situation by examining the facts and debunking common misconceptions.
Visual Evidence and Captures
According to visual evidence on the Oryx Ukraine website, at least 281 Russian tanks have been captured. These are primarily repurposed for Ukrainian use, indicating a significant shift in the ownership and maintenance of these armored vehicles.
Ukraine's Tank Fleet
Almost all of Ukraine's tanks are Russian models as a result of Ukraine's own production and purchases. Currently, the exact number of operational Russian tanks remaining in Ukraine is not definitively known. However, Ukraine's military currently possess almost all of the tanks within the country.
Endangered Species: Russian Tanks in Ukraine
The Russian tanks in Ukraine are now considered an endangered species. These captured tanks are often taken to reservations around the country. Each tank is typically engaged by at least five anti-tank weapon systems, significantly reducing their lifespan.
New or Modernized Russian Tanks in Ukraine
There are new or modernized Russian tanks in Ukraine, though they are operated by Russian irregular forces claimed by Kremlin-friendly media outlets as "separatists." This information was corroborated by a solid report by Bellingcat, a reputable watchdog organization.
Tanks in Donbass and Allegations
Almost all of the Russian-made or USSR-made tanks in Ukraine are in the military's possession. However, Donbass resistance fighters also possess some of these tanks. Despite allegations, there is no concrete proof linking the Donbass resistance's tanks to Russia. Most of these tanks are believed to have been captured from Ukraine's forces.
A notable incident highlighted by Quora showed photographs claiming to depict Russian tanks in Ukraine. These claims were debunked by the photos themselves, as the dates in the screenshots range from 2002 to 2012, long before the 2014 coup in Kiev and the subsequent conflict in Donbass. Moreover, these images do not appear anywhere else in a Google search, underlining their irrelevance to contemporary claims.
Furthermore, when the coordinates of the sites in the screenshots were checked using Google Earth, the images showed significant changes. The old versions on top in the comparison images, with the 2021 versions on the bottom, suggested that the vehicles in the earlier photos were likely Ukraine's own or captured from Ukrainian forces.
Thus, through visual evidence and thorough investigation, the current state of Russian tanks in Ukraine is clearer, disproving many of the earlier claims and providing a more accurate picture of the conflict's dynamics.