Russian T‑62 tanks destroyed near Novomykhailivka in drone strike
10:51 AM EDT, July 9, 2024
Photos and information confirming new Russian losses near Novomykhailivka have surfaced online. Several T-62 tanks were identified among the destroyed equipment. This is further evidence that the invaders' very old machines do not constitute a significant force on the front lines and are relatively easy targets.
The photos that appeared on social media are from one of the hottest sections of the front in the Donetsk region. This refers to the third section (after Avdiivka and Bakhmut) where the Russians have been most active in recent months. Observers of the war in Ukraine quickly analyzed the materials and identified what the Russians lost this time based on them.
Russian losses near Novomykhailivka
The Ukrainians managed to destroy an entire column. They mainly used drones for this, which is not surprising given the age of the equipment that the attacking Russians were using. The Ukrainians destroyed at least three T-62 tanks, one unidentified tank, and several BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles.
T-62 tanks are among the oldest participating in the war in Ukraine. These machines were designed in the 1960s. They were not built from scratch but as an upgrade of the T-54 and T-55 series tanks.
Their armor was improved, and stronger armament in the form of a 4.5-inch smoothbore gun was introduced, but these elements were impressive when the T-62 first entered service. Today, these are considered antiques, which do not present much value on the battlefield, either offensively or defensively.
The crews of the T-62 tanks are not protected from fire from heavier artillery or even from FPV (first person view) kamikaze drones. As a result, the Russians often try to improvise by mounting additional protections in cages and roofs, but in practice, these often fail. The drones are equipped with cameras that provide soldiers with real-time live views until the moment of impact. For this reason, attacks carried out with their help are usually effective due to their accurate strikes.
The BMP-1s are also old equipment, dating back to the USSR era. These are infantry fighting vehicles produced from 1966 to 1982. They are equipped with a 2A28 Grom 2.87-inch gun and a 0.3-inch machine gun.
