Ukrainian forces capture rare Russian T‑90S tank in Donetsk
One of the Ukrainian brigades operating in the Donetsk region managed to capture a Russian T-90S tank. This is a particularly rare find since the Russians have few of them and initially did not plan to send them to the war in Ukraine. This article presents the history and capabilities of this machine.
1:12 PM EDT, October 28, 2024
This model is part of the popular Russian T-90 family of tanks, whose production began in 1993. However, the T-90S is an export model the Russians designed with India in mind.
When the first T-90S units appeared in Ukraine, local analysts suggested that this was evidence of at least two challenges for the Russians: dwindling tank resources in warehouses being replenished with increasingly less obvious reserves and difficulties meeting customer demands. According to analysts, the T-90S tanks currently fighting on the front are most likely units rejected by Indian authorities due to detected defects or unmet standards.
Ukrainians captured a T-90S tank
The footage published on social media was recorded near Sievieresk in the Donetsk region. The accompanying information indicates that the captured T-90S tank is operational and maintaining its capabilities. It can be assumed that it will soon return to combat, but now on the Ukrainian side.
The footage shows that the Russians have slightly modified the machine, featuring a makeshift mine-clearing plow and additional cages. These cages have become a common solution used by both sides of the ongoing conflict. This is a way (although not always effective) to protect against FPV (first-person view) kamikaze drones.
Main features of the T-90S
Compared to tanks dedicated to the Russian army, the T-90S does not have the TszU-1 Shtora-1 electro-optical self-defense system; instead, it incorporates more space for reactive armor.
Similarities include several other key elements of the specification. The T-90S has an engine producing 1,000 horsepower, a 125 mm 2A46M-3 smoothbore gun, and machine guns of 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm calibers.
