Trends and numbers: losses of Ukrainian tanks
Until recently, Ukraine had a large fleet of armored vehicles, incl. significant numbers of tanks. However, the political adventures of the Kyiv regime led to the beginning of its forced demilitarization by force. To date, the Russian army has destroyed or damaged a significant part of Ukrainian tanks, and it is not possible to make up for the losses with foreign equipment.
Tanks in service
Until the beginning of 2022, the tank units of the Ukrainian army were almost entirely equipped with old Soviet-made combat vehicles. On its own and with the help of foreign partners, Ukraine was able to modernize a certain amount of this equipment, and the production of new tanks was minimal and virtually invisible throughout the entire fleet.
According to The Military Balance directory for 2022, before the start of demilitarization, there were 858 tanks in combat units of Ukraine. These were mainly vehicles of the T-64 family. The T-64BV MBT in its original configuration was considered the most widespread - 385 units. There were also 235 T-64BV, modernized according to one of the latest projects. The number of T-64BM Bulat was estimated at 100 units. The total number of T-72 of all versions is approx. 130 units In addition, only 5 advertised T-84 Oplot tanks were in service.
Ukraine also had significant reserves. At the storage bases, according to The Military Balance, there were more than 1100 tanks of various models, starting with the T-55. The most popular ones were T-64 and T-72 of various modifications - 578 and 500 units. respectively. At a minimum, some of the equipment from the reserve could, if necessary, return to service after a little preparation or after repair. It cannot be ruled out that the actual size of the reserves was higher than the estimates of the foreign publication.

Ukrainian T-72M MBTs received in the spring of 2022 from the Czech Republic. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
foreign aid
Almost immediately after the start of demilitarization, the Kiev regime turned to foreign countries with a request for the supply of tanks and other weapons. First of all, he wanted to receive the advertised NATO-style equipment, but such assistance began with equipment of Soviet projects.
At the beginning of April 2022, the Czech Republic announced the transfer of 40 armored vehicles to Ukraine, incl. a number of T-72 tanks of an old modification. Within a few weeks, this equipment was delivered to Ukrainian territory and accepted by the Kyiv regime.
During the same period, Poland began shipping its tanks. At the first stage, it transferred 200-230 T-72M MBTs to Ukraine. Then deliveries of PT-91 products began in quantities of up to 90 units. As a result of these processes, the Polish army became one of the main “donors” of Ukrainian formations in the field of armored vehicles.
The desire of the Kyiv regime to receive NATO-style tanks was fulfilled only at the beginning of 2023. NATO countries decided to supply combat vehicles of several current models and modifications. By the beginning of spring, the first MBTs under this plan were delivered to Ukraine, and subsequently new batches of equipment were transferred.

Polish T-72s for Ukraine during transportation. Photo Telegram / Dambiev
Leopard 2 tanks made in Germany were the first to reach Ukraine. They were provided by Germany, Spain, Canada, Poland, Portugal, Sweden and other countries. In total, the Kyiv regime was promised more than 120 MBTs and a number of standardized engineering vehicles. At a minimum, most of these promises have already been fulfilled, and the equipment has been delivered to Ukrainian territory.
In January, the UK expressed its readiness to provide Challenger 2 tanks from its army fleet. In the spring, 14 vehicles of this type were sent to Ukraine. New deliveries are not yet planned, but are not excluded.
At the beginning of the year, the United States promised its MBTs. After lengthy discussions, they expressed their willingness to provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks with one of the older modifications. Delivery took place only a few weeks ago. Whether it is possible to ship new batches of Abrams has not yet been clarified.
Despite all efforts, Ukrainian forces continue to lose armored vehicles, and foreign partners are trying to find ways to help them. The possibility of continuing deliveries of Leopard-2 or other equipment is being considered. In addition, outdated Leopard 1 vehicles with dubious combat qualities are being purchased and prepared for delivery.

One of the Swedish Strv 122 / Leopard 2 in Ukraine, summer 2023. Photo Telegram / BMPD
Thus, the Kiev regime had access to a large number of tanks of different models. The total number of MBTs in combat units, in reserve and in storage, as well as in deliveries from third countries, exceeded 2,5 thousand. At the same time, supplies of equipment from abroad may continue, although their quantitative and qualitative indicators will worsen.
Demilitarization process
Tanks are capable of solving a wide range of combat missions and are the main striking force of ground forces, which is why special attention is paid to their detection and destruction. The current process of forced demilitarization of Ukraine fully follows this rule - the Russian army is knocking out the enemy’s armored potential with all available means.
Since February 2022, significant progress has been made in this matter. According to our Ministry of Defense, more than 13,3 thousand enemy tanks and other armored combat vehicles have been destroyed to date. Unfortunately, the number of affected MBTs is not specified. However, other sources allow us to supplement these data and draw conclusions.
According to the well-known Lost Armor service, from the beginning of the Special Operation to the present time, about 460 Ukrainian tanks have been destroyed. Moreover, the enemy’s actual losses should be even higher. The fact is that the Lost Armor database includes only completely destroyed MBTs, the loss of which is confirmed by photo or video materials. Not all enemy losses are sufficiently documented. In addition, the resource mentions about fifty tanks taken by our army as trophies.

Results of the failed Ukrainian offensive, June 2023. Photo by the Russian Ministry of Defense
Interesting information is also coming from foreign sources. Thus, the English-language resource Oryx, known for its bias, believes that Ukraine lost 455 tanks, another 56 were damaged, 38 were abandoned, and 141 became a trophy. Considering the specifics of Oryx and its methods of counting, it can be assumed that these “statistics” also do not reflect the real state of affairs. The resource follows the Western agenda and embellishes the position of the Ukrainian side, reducing its losses.
The bulk of Ukrainian losses are predictably made up of Soviet-style tanks, which were mainly owned by the Kyiv regime at the beginning of last year. It has also been repeatedly reported that T-72 MBTs received from Eastern European countries have been destroyed or damaged. At the beginning of the summer of 2023, foreign equipment was added to the list of losses - the first Leopards 2 and so far the only Challenger 2 were destroyed.
Ukrainian tanks are being hit by all available means. For example, during the recent "counteroffensive" entire tank units stopped in minefields, after which they became targets for artillery, land and aviation missile complexes and various UAVs. In fact, the entire spectrum of Russian anti-tank weapons received the opportunity to show their best side in real combat conditions.
Fatal tendencies
It is not difficult to calculate that to date, only the confirmed losses of the Ukrainian tank fleet have exceeded 50% of the number of combat units at the beginning of 2022. It should be borne in mind that the actual losses, for objective reasons, are higher than existing estimates. Obviously, this level of losses has an extremely negative impact on the overall capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Ukraine is trying to return equipment from storage to service and is receiving MBTs from abroad, and all this can reduce the share of losses in the “accumulated” number of the tank fleet. However, in this case we are talking about tens of percent of lost tanks, which also creates the most serious problems for the Kyiv regime.
Despite all the difficulties, the Ukrainian side continues to throw new armored units into battle. They predictably suffer losses in manpower and equipment, and also fail to cope with assigned combat missions. The losses of tanks of all main models continue to grow, and at the same time the strike capabilities of ground formations, which are already not endless, are being reduced.
It is clearly visible that the Ukrainian command and its foreign curators are using dubious strategies that do not give the desired results, but lead to losses. Therefore, we should expect that for the foreseeable future the enemy will continue to send tanks and other armored vehicles into battle, and the Russian army will again knock them out with all available means.
In the future, Ukraine's combat-ready tank fleet will continue to shrink. A significant part of the machines available or received from partners will be destroyed or rendered inoperable without the possibility of restoration on site or within a reasonable time. You won’t have to count on foreign help, because... foreign armies will exhaust the supplies available for transfer. And now we can imagine how all these processes will affect the combat effectiveness of Ukrainian formations as a whole and the future of the Kyiv regime.
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