The invasion of Ukraine has seen staggering losses on both sides. Russia’s vast fleet of supposedly modernised tanks has been significantly depleted – burning wrecks a common sight. Craig Allen asks the question, just what went wrong?
In the lead-up to the invasion of Ukraine, Russia was recognised as having one of the largest and most effective tank armies in the world. Consisting of modernised T-72s, T-80s and the latest T-90s operating in combined arms groups, they were expected to sweep away all before them. In the event, exactly the opposite happened, and the blasted hulks of Russian tanks have become a daily feature of our news reports. So, what went wrong? Was it the tanks, the tactics or the leadership – and can the Russians recover from their staggering losses incurred in this war?
The tanks
