Russian armour dwindles as new vehicle losses peak in conflict

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

Richard Vereker, an OSINT researcher, noted that throughout the war, about 25% of the losses in Russian armoured infantry 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 the intensification of fighting as Russia attempted to gain more territory. Vereker suggests that during this time, Russia deployed its best units and most advanced equipment.

Since December, losses of new vehicles started to decline, reaching 21% in February and 17% in March, the lowest since the start of the war. Vereker presents two theories: an optimistic one that Russia has lost most of its new equipment, and a pessimistic one that Russia is holding back its best equipment, believing in a forthcoming victory.

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

Let's clarify that the history of the T-72 tank began in the 1970s. Since then, this vehicle has undergone numerous modernisations. Among them, the T-72B3 version stands out, thanks to its modern Sosna-U sight and improved reactive armour. The T-72B3 model is equipped with a 125mm 2A46M gun, and machine guns PKT 7.62mm and 12.7mm. These modifications significantly increased its effectiveness on the battlefield.

On the other hand, 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 its chassis. Series 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 modernised UTD-29M engine with a power of 500 HP, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 72 km/h on land and 10 km/h while moving in water.

The operational range of the BMP-3 is up to 600 kilometres on a full tank of fuel. Its armament is a combination of two guns: a 100mm 2A70 and a 30mm 2A72, supported by a 7.62mm PKT machine gun. The front armour of the BMP-3 is designed to effectively protect against ammunition up to 30mm calibre.