Critical blow: Destruction of Russian T‑72B3 tanks in Donetsk region
Journalists from the American publication "Forbes" highlight one of the recent attacks conducted by Russian forces against Ukrainian troops in the city of Kurakhove, located in the Donetsk region. During this strike, the aggressor army lost some equipment, which was increasingly valuable for Moscow.
Social media frequently showcases recordings depicting the latest losses on the Russian or Ukrainian sides. For the former, the damages often involve older machinery within their arsenal. However, sometimes, these losses include vehicles that are exceptionally important for the aggressor army due to their offensive capabilities or simply their limited quantity – such was the case in the city above Kurakhove.
A valuable loss for the Russians
As "Forbes" notes, the Russians lost, among other things, three T-72B3 tanks in the Donetsk region during one attack. The 79th Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is credited with their destruction. All the destroyed vehicles were equipped with the latest technology – anti-drone mesh armour, radio locators, and mine-clearing rollers. Why is this a significant loss?
"Forbes" emphasises that the loss of each T-72B3 is a severe blow to the Russian Federation's defence industry because the sector is unable to cover the current losses. For this reason, the Kremlin decided to remove the oldest operational units from storage—including T-54, T-55, and T-60—and send them to the front lines.
Old tanks are forming an increasingly larger part of Russia's tank corps, "Forbes" explains. "T-72B3s are becoming rare, and this makes their mass destruction particularly painful for the Russians," the article states.
One of the best in the arsenal
The T-72B3 is considered one of the best tanks currently in the Russian armed forces for good reason. It is a modernisation of the T-72B conducted since 2011, primarily improving optoelectronics and enabling new types of ammunition, such as the Sweciec family projectiles with a longer penetrator.
The T-72B3 is equipped with the Catherine-FC fire control system. The tank's smoothbore gun, 2A46M-5, with stabilisation to ensure greater accuracy, shells enemy positions. However, the weapon upgrades reduced armour thickness. This is due to the necessity of creating space for the autoloader from the inside, which directly weakened the T-72B3's armour.
