Ukraine’s military situation is dire, with Russian forces reportedly losing over 9,000 tanks and 18,000 armored vehicles since the war began in February 2022. As winter approaches, there’s little sign of a pause in the fighting.
On Thursday, Ukrainian officials announced that Russia has lost approximately 9,014 tanks, with 17 of those lost in just the last day. Additionally, 33 armored personnel carriers were destroyed in the same two-day period, pushing Russia’s total losses of armored vehicles to around 18,002.
Evgeny Biyatov / Sputnik via AP
Despite some territorial gains in key Eastern cities like Bakhmut and Avdiivka, Russia’s military advance has been costly. Experienced tank crews were deployed early in the conflict, leaving inexperienced recruits to fill their roles, often without proper training.
To counter these losses, Russia has begun to reactivate tanks from storage and ramp up production. President Putin claimed earlier this year that domestic tank manufacturing has surged fivefold since the onset of what Moscow calls its “special military operation” in Ukraine.
As of early 2024, the British government estimates that Russia could produce around 100 main battle tanks each month to support its offensives.
In contrast, Ukraine lacks the same capacity to replace its losses, though it has received support and armored vehicles from Western allies. There have been reports of Russian infantry assaults relying on smaller groups rather than armored vehicles, indicating a shift in their approach.
Ukrainian forces have encountered not only damaged military vehicles but also civilian cars repurposed for combat, highlighting the resourcefulness amid ongoing conflict.
As both nations brace for another winter, the UK’s Defense Ministry noted that past winters have not deterred Russian operations. The lack of a strategic pause in the fighting suggests that both sides are gearing up for a challenging season ahead.