#Russian Tanks

Facing mounting battlefield losses from Ukrainian drones, Russian forces are resorting to increasingly desperate—and primitive—measures to keep their aging armored vehicles and artillery systems intact.

Faced with battlefield realities that have rendered traditional tanks increasingly vulnerable, Russian engineers are proposing a radical sci-fi makeover for Cold War–era armor—one that swaps brute force for lasers, drones, and flamethrowers.

Struggling to replenish its depleted armored forces, Russia is now pulling Cold War–era T-72A and T-72 Ural tanks—many in disrepair—from long-term storage, according to satellite imagery.

Despite an EU embargo on exporting ball and roller bearings to Russia—components small enough to fit in a palm, yet essential for keeping drones airborne and missiles on target—the Slovak firm Kinex Bearings shipped over $1.1 million worth to its Russian subsidiary in 2024.

While Russia continues to lose thousands of tanks in Ukraine, it is simultaneously ramping up production of its most advanced model—the T-90M. Yet despite record output, these tanks are rarely seen on the battlefield, raising questions about Moscow’s long-term strategy.