Russia Is Losing Tanks in Ukraine, Yet Its Newest T-72B3M Just Showed Up in Libya

Russia’s newest T-72B3M tanks, upgraded with lessons from the war against Ukraine, have reportedly been spotted in Libya, according to the OSINT monitoring project Libya Field Notes on May 14.

The platform cited footage published on X showing what analysts identified as T-72B3M tanks of the 2025 model in service with the Libyan National Army, led by Khalifa Haftar .

According to preliminary estimates, Haftar’s forces may now have at least three of the newly upgraded tanks, as well as BMP-3M infantry fighting vehicles.

Military equipment researcher Will Knowler helped clarify the identification, according to the OSINT report.

The T-72B3M 2025 model is one of the newest versions of Russia’s long-running T-72 tank family. The upgrade was developed with battlefield experience from Russia’s war against Ukraine, where drones, especially FPV systems, have become one of the biggest threats to armored vehicles.

The new modification focuses heavily on survivability. It includes additional anti-drone protection, upgraded armor modules, and factory-installed protective screens designed to reduce vulnerability to top-down and side attacks.

One of the key changes is the broader use of Relikt explosive reactive armor. On the 2025 version, these modules are reportedly installed not only on the front of the hull, but also across the turret’s frontal section, replacing older Kontakt-5 armor elements.

The tank also received changes around the fuel tank area above the tracks. Vulnerable external fuel containers were reportedly removed and replaced with Relikt armor blocks, reducing operational range but improving protection against FPV drone strikes.

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Additional changes include new protective side skirts similar to those used on the T-90M, reinforced armor modules, factory-installed cage screens, camouflage netting, and electronic warfare systems intended to disrupt drone control links.

The Sosna-U sight was also modified with a new mechanized protective cover. On earlier versions, crews had to remove the cover manually from outside the vehicle, exposing them to danger.

Earlier, reports emerged that the Kremlin is restoring a long-abandoned airbase near Matan al-Sarra, close to the Chadian border in Libya, to support Russian military operations across Africa, including activities involving the so-called “African Corps” of the Russian Defense Ministry.

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