“It Breaks Constantly”: Russian Crew Slams T-80BVM Tank as Unreliable and Poorly Built

A Russian soldier serving on the front line in Ukraine has described the T-80BVM main battle tank as unreliable, poorly constructed, and ill-suited for battlefield conditions, according to Defence Blog citing an interview published by Vault8 on November 8.

The serviceman, identified by the callsign “Tim,” said the upgraded T-80BVM—promoted by Moscow as a modern combat vehicle—performs poorly under operational stress.

“It is something that looks quite good on paper, but the quality of execution is terrible,” he said, adding that critical components such as hydraulic systems and fasteners fail frequently.

The T-80BVM is a modernized version of the Soviet-era T-80 platform, equipped with a gas turbine engine, thermal optics, and upgraded protection systems. It has been actively used in Russia’s operations in Ukraine and is often promoted in official materials as a high-mobility, all-weather tank.

According to the tanker, hydraulic leaks began “the moment the vehicle rolled off the trailer,” and repeated repairs failed to resolve the issue. The crew compartment, he noted, is uncomfortably tight, particularly for the commander, because of additional thermal imaging equipment.

He also challenged official claims about the tank’s gas-turbine engine, stating that it performs poorly in muddy terrain and consumes excessive amounts of fuel.

“In our black soil, it does not move at all,” he said. The engine reportedly requires kerosene rather than diesel and produces a loud noise similar to a “jet fighter taking off” when operating from the side or rear.

During combat, he described a dangerous delay in startup time compared to diesel-powered tanks. “When our group was spotted and they started shelling us, the T-72 started instantly and drove away. We stood under fire waiting for the turbine to spool up,” the tanker said.

Tim reported that the T-80BVM is difficult to maintain in field conditions. The air intake can easily clog with debris, shutting down the engine, while fuel filters require constant draining.

Despite official claims that the turbine provides advantages in cold weather, the soldier said the tank remains dependent on battery power to start, offering no practical improvement over older models.

He also criticized makeshift field upgrades intended to protect against drones, such as heavy “grill” armor and chains mounted on turrets. These additions, he said, overstrain the transmission and turret drive systems, leading to premature wear and mechanical failures.

According to Defence Blog, the tanker further noted shortages of standard explosive reactive armor, saying that many of the blocks installed are improvised and fail to meet advertised protection levels.

Earlier, Defense Express reported that Russian engineers attempted to improve the BMD-4M airborne vehicle with additional armor and mesh screens after heavy battlefield losses.

However, analysts noted that the upgrade failed to address the vehicle’s core design flaw—its light construction—leaving it vulnerable to drones, anti-tank weapons, and even machine-gun fire.

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