Russian forces face record-breaking equipment losses in March
In March 2025, the Russian army suffered the greatest losses in artillery and vehicles since the beginning of the invasion, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Throughout March 2025, the Russian army experienced the largest losses in artillery and vehicles since the start of the invasion of Ukraine. Since the beginning of the year, the Russians have lost over 800 tanks. In March alone, Ukrainian forces destroyed 1,644 Russian artillery systems.
Losses in military equipment
In March, Ukrainian forces destroyed or damaged 272 Russian tanks, bringing the total to 833 units for the year. The greatest successes in tank destruction were recorded in October 2023, with 521 tanks destroyed.
Ukrainian defenders also destroyed 1,644 artillery systems, marking the highest monthly result since the invasion began. The record day was March 27, when 122 artillery units were destroyed, according to calculations by the General Staff.
Effectiveness of Ukrainian defense
In March, 607 armored combat vehicles were also destroyed. In the first quarter of 2025, Ukrainian forces destroyed a total of 1,813 such vehicles. Additionally, in March, 3,545 transport vehicles and tankers were destroyed, which is the highest total since the invasion began.
In the first three months of 2025, Ukrainian forces destroyed 9,971 vehicles belonging to the Russian army. By comparison, in the same period in 2024, 3,422 vehicles were destroyed. According to the Ukrainians, these figures demonstrate the effectiveness of the Ukrainian defense and their progress in conducting retaliatory strikes.
The Ukrainians do not disclose which specific vehicles are most frequently destroyed. However, it is worth mentioning that, in the context of tanks, social media often features content showing the elimination of Putin's most advanced designs, the T-90M Proryv tanks.
The T-90M Proryv is one of the most technologically advanced tanks in the Russian army's arsenal. It is equipped with a modern 125 mm 2A46M-5 cannon and an upgraded fire control system called Kalina. Additional protection is provided by the Relikt reactive armor, which secures both the turret and the hull. The tank's armament is supplemented by two machine guns, with calibers of 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm.
Regarding artillery equipment, one of the more popular pieces in the Russian arsenal is the 2S1 Gvozdika howitzer. This is a tracked vehicle whose design dates back to the 1960s. It's powered by an engine generating either 300 or 240 horsepower, depending on the version, allowing this 17-ton machine to reach a maximum speed of 37 mph. The main armament of the Gvozdika is the 122 mm 2A31 howitzer, with a range of 9 miles, extendable to 14 miles with rocket-assisted ammunition.
