The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence reported that Russia has lost 9,137 tanks as of 30 October. While experts caution that the actual number may differ, many agree that Russia’s tank reserves are indeed dwindling.
Michael Gjersrud, an analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, notes that stockpile figures and production forecasts carry a significant degree of uncertainty.
“Despite an increase in the production of new Russian tanks compared to peacetime levels, it will likely become more difficult to supply enough of this equipment to offset the current rate of attrition. This is especially true considering that the number of stored tanks not requiring major repairs is dwindling,” the German publication Frankfurter Rundschau quotes the analyst.
According to Gjersrud, Russian tank storage facilities may have a capacity of around 1,600 units, but it is hard to say whether these depots contain other types of equipment or stand empty. “Estimates of tank production volumes are partly based on assumptions grounded in figures published by Moscow,” he says.
According to data from the statistical platform Oryx, 3,600 Russian tanks have been documented as destroyed. However, these figures reflect only those losses verified through photographs, suggesting that the actual number is likely much higher.
“The document cites a pre-war estimate of 6,300 Russian tanks based on satellite images of known tank storage facilities, excluding reserves held within them. If the loss rate of approximately 1,000 tanks per year were accurate, Russia would be compelled to end the war swiftly, significantly increase production or restoration efforts, or seek support from allied states,” notes the German media.
Russia seeks new tank allies
Recently, soldiers from the “K2” mechanised battalion of the 54th Ivan Mazepa Separate Mechanised Brigade captured a Russian export T-90S tank. As armour researcher Andriy Tarasenko pointed out, the most striking difference between the T-90S and the T-90A is the trapezoidal “Indian” block of dynamic protection and the English inscriptions found inside the tank.
“T-90 tanks intended for the export market, particularly to India, seem to have been repurposed for use in Ukraine. Essentially, Russia has taken India’s word for it. According to Defense News, the two countries agreed in 2019 to produce several hundred T-90S tanks. However, in July, analyst Bradford Thomas Du Plessis raised concerns about Moscow’s ability to supply India with the promised engines and transmissions for the T-90S,” notes Frankfurter Rundschau.
Meanwhile, Russia’s war against Ukraine is creating new opportunities for North Korea’s tank industry. “The reintroduction of the T-62 to the front lines for the Russian army increases the likelihood that North Korea could be relied upon as a supplier of 115-mm smoothbore shells. These shells are not used by any other class of Russian armoured vehicles and are therefore likely in limited supply, especially since most T-62s were previously scrapped,” suggests analyst A.B. Abrams.
With North Korea estimated to possess over 1,200 of these tanks, their export could enable Russia to significantly enhance its T-62 fleet. In fact, Forbes magazine noted the importance of this vehicle in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine back in July, stating that “60-year-old T-62s are soon to become the main armour of the Russian army.”
Russia’s modern tank stock is nearly depleted
“With the production of new tanks jeopardised by a lack of funding, workforce, and spare parts, combat vehicles from the 1960s will inevitably take on an increasingly vital role in the Russian army by the mid-2020s,” notes Frankfurter Rundschau.
Similarly, the German publication Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reports that Russia appears to have nearly depleted its modern tank reserves. Citing open-source satellite images, it indicates that the T-90 fleet has been entirely destroyed, while of the 1,400 T-80 tanks, only 303 units remain operational. Many T-62s are in a lamentable condition, with some even lacking turrets or guns.
As a result, analysts are debating whether it is more economically viable to produce new, modern tanks or to attempt to revive ageing post-war equipment. “To be clear, even a fully rusted tank can be salvaged—if you clean and polish the hull and replace nearly all components that aren’t solid steel,” argues analyst David Axe.
However, the Russian war in Ukraine has demonstrated that more advanced equipment can overcome significantly greater challenges than older models.
“Old, complex tanks—such as the T-72 ‘Ural’ and T-72A—are clearly not worth the time and money required to restore them to working condition. The Russians must be desperate to see anything of value in a 46-ton pile of rust that was once a functioning T-72 ‘Ural,’” the analyst concludes.
