Russian armoured vehicles vanish from Ukrainian frontlines

Russian armoured vehicles, such as BMP-3, BMD-4, and BTR-82, which were regularly used on the front lines in Ukraine, are starting to disappear. UNIAN reports that according to OSINT analysis, since February, their presence on the battlefield has significantly decreased.

Richard Vereker, an OSINT researcher, noticed that throughout the war, about 25% of Russian armoured infantry losses involved new machines. However, in July, these losses began to rise sharply, peaking in October and November when 38% of the losses involved new vehicles.

The increase in losses of new vehicles coincided with intensified fighting as Russia attempted to gain more territory. Vereker suggests that at this time, Russia used its best units and most modern equipment.

Since December, the losses of new vehicles have decreased, reaching 21% in February and 17% in March, the lowest level since the beginning of the war. Vereker presents two theories: the optimistic one is that Russia has lost most of its new equipment, and the pessimistic one is that Russia is holding back its best equipment, believing in a near victory.

UNIAN also reports that the Russian army is running out of old T-72 tanks, which are no longer being produced, but until recently represented the majority of Russia's tank fleet. Their absence in loss statistics results from the decreasing number of these vehicles.

The history of the T-72 tank began in the 1970s. Since then, this vehicle has undergone numerous upgrades. Among them, the T-72B3 version is particularly notable due to its modern Sosna-U sight and enhanced reactive armour. The T-72B3 model is equipped with a 2A46M 125 mm cannon, as well as PKT 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm machine guns. These modifications significantly increased its effectiveness on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the BMP-3, another piece of equipment disappearing from the front, was created as a successor to the BMP-2 model, drawing from previous design solutions, especially in terms of chassis. The serial production of this vehicle began in 1986, and soon after, the BMP-3 became an integral part of the Russian armed forces.

This infantry fighting vehicle offers modern technical solutions compared to its predecessor. It is equipped with a modernized UTD-29M engine with 500 horsepower, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 43 mph on land and 6 mph while moving on water.

The operational range of the BMP-3 is up to 373 miles on a full tank. Its armament is a combination of two cannons: a 100 mm 2A70 and a 30 mm 2A72, supported by a 7.62 mm PKT machine gun. The frontal armour of the BMP-3 is designed to effectively protect against shells up to 30 mm calibre.