Ukrainian partisans spot Russian T‑90 tanks near NATO border

The Ukrainian partisan group Atesz spotted the transport of the latest Russian T-90M Proryv tanks in St. Petersburg. This is an unusual observation in this location—especially considering the fact that St. Petersburg is closer to NATO borders in Estonia than to the front in Ukraine.

The Atesz partisan group has frequently published valuable information about Russian movements for Ukrainians. Recently, the resistance movement uncovered the Pantsir-S1 air defense system guarding Putin's residence in Sochi. At another time, the Atesz group reported on increasing problems within the Russian Federation's defense industry, citing severe sanctions imposed by the West as the cause.

Now, the partisans report a significant transport of T-90M Proryv tanks spotted in St. Petersburg, about 93 miles from the nearest border with Estonia and Finland. The footage shows a column of at least 10 Russian vehicles.

The most notable aspect, however, is the location where these latest machines were seen. After all, St. Petersburg is not an area actively participating in the war in Ukraine—it is relatively far from the border with the defending nation, over 497 miles away in a straight line.

However, the Atesz movement indicates that the T-90M Proryv tanks were transported from Siertołowo, a few miles from St. Petersburg. There is a training ground where the Russian Federation trains new soldiers.

"The next batch of Russian armored vehicles will soon again turn out to be a pile of rusty scrap metal, as it was before," writes a representative of the Atesz group on the X platform. The tanks were used for training near St. Petersburg and will likely be sent to the front soon with new crews.

Let us remind you that the Russian Federation's army has been using the T-90M Proryv tanks since 2021. They are the latest members of the T-90 family, which first appeared in service in the early 1990s.

These units, referred to as "Putin's pride," feature a 125 mm 2A46M-5 cannon with an updated fire control system compared to their predecessors. The crew also has two machine guns, one 7.62 mm, and another 12.7 mm.

Relikt reactive armor provides the T-90 M Proryv's defensive capabilities, while a power unit generating 1,000 HP, accelerating this structure to a speed of about 40 mph, guarantees mobility. The cost of a single T-90M Proryv is estimated at around $4.5 million.