Ukraine captures rare Russian T‑90S tank in frontline twist
A video has emerged online depicting Ukrainian soldiers operating a tank captured from the Russians. It is a rare and valuable T-90S. Moscow initially did not intend to deploy this type to the front, and it does not possess many units. Here, we explain what this equipment entails.
The T-90S is part of the well-known Russian family of main battle tanks; however, unlike the T-90 or the latest T-90M, it rarely appears in reports from the front. This is because the T-90S is a model manufactured for export.
It is intended for India, and according to some analysts and observers of the ongoing conflict, the units sent to Ukraine are only a few or perhaps a dozen that were rejected by the customer (namely India) due to identified flaws or failure to meet the order specifications. Given the significant losses (Ukrainians have already eliminated over 3,500 tanks of the invaders), Moscow decided to bolster its troops even with returned T-90S tanks.
T-90S captured by Ukrainians
The video was posted on the platform X on the official account managed by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, leaving no doubt about its authenticity. In this instance, Ukrainian soldiers are showcasing the interior of the captured tank. The entire footage suggests that it was taken over in good working order and will be ready for use.
The T-90S is a tank with considerable capabilities
Regarding technical specifications, the T-90S is similar to other tanks in this family. It does not feature the TszU-1 Shtora-1 electro-optical self-defence system; instead, Russian designers have provided additional space for reactive armour.
Like the T-90 and T-90M, the T-90S is equipped with a 2A46M-3 smoothbore gun calibre 125 mm and machine guns calibres 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm. It is notably superior to most older tanks used by the Russian army. It includes, among other features, an advanced fire control system and an engine generating 1,000 horsepower. The weight of this tank is approximately 46,000 kilograms.
The cost of one T-90M unit is estimated at about 4.5 million dollars, and the value of the T-90S may be similar.
