Ukraine gains tactical edge as Russian tanks falter
The Ukrainian army is gaining an advantage in the use of tanks over Russia, notes Forbes analyst David Axe. According to him, Russian tanks are now mostly performing the function of artillery.
For the first time since the beginning of the war, the Ukrainian army has gained an advantage over the Russian forces in tank use. As reported on the Forbes portal, Russian tanks have been transformed mainly into artillery, while Ukrainian tanks continue to participate in attacks.
The advantage of Ukrainian drones
Russians are facing increasing problems on the front. This is the conclusion of an analysis conducted by Forbes journalist, David Axe. The analyst notes that Russian tanks can only operate from closed fire positions. Direct infantry support is impossible due to the effectiveness of Ukrainian kamikaze drones, which destroy tanks before they reach the front lines. Consequently, Russians have to fire their tanks from a greater distance—just like artillery does.
Axe also observes that Ukrainian drones can effectively block Russian armored weapons, thanks to significant advancements in these designs. Russian unmanned aircraft are less effective because they are more susceptible to electronic warfare systems.
The adaptability of Ukrainian forces
Ukrainian tanks can operate not only from closed positions but also conduct short direct fires. Although less effective, Russian drones still pose a threat, yet the Ukrainian army demonstrates high adaptability.
It is worth noting that in the context of Russian tanks, whose usefulness has been significantly limited, the key point is that the arsenal of the Russian Federation includes machines that can pose a threat to the equipment used by Ukrainians in confrontations.
The best Russian tanks
These primarily include the latest T-90M Proryv tanks belonging to the Russians. These vehicles are armed with a 2A46M-5 gun of 4.9 inches in caliber and equipped with an improved fire control system and modular reactive armor, Relikt. Equally important on the front are the heavily armored T-80BWM and T-72B3 models, which, like the T-90M, have modern optronics.
However, not all Russian brigades can boast such equipment. On the front, T-72Bs, which Ukrainians often destroy, are frequently present, as well as older models like the T-62M, T-62, and T-55. Due to their age and technical condition, these latter models do not provide crews with adequate protection and situational awareness on the battlefield. Their armor is weak, making them vulnerable not only to heavy anti-tank weapons but also to attacks by improvised kamikaze drones.
