The T-54s and T-55s are tanks from WWII- and post-WWII era, and they are likely less capable tanks. However, the numbers are quite substantial, according to Oryx, which breaks down the 2,103 tanks as 1,323 destroyed, 120 damaged, 116 abandoned and 544 captured.Īccording to the Oryx site, the largest number of destroyed tanks are Soviet-era T-72s and T-90 tanks, yet the site is also clear that older Soviet T-54 and T-55 tanks are being destroyed as well. Expert commentary on the Oryx site explains that the actual number of destroyed tanks is likely much larger than they have documented, as they can only confirm what they photograph and identify.

The Oryx site reports that 2,103 Russian tanks have been destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or captured. Open-source intelligence website Oryx has cataloged thousands of destroyed Russian tanks. Artillery, drones, armored vehicles, and even air and missile attacks can destroy tanks, all in addition to the successful anti-armor weapons Ukraine used to such great effect at the beginning of the war.

What is increasingly significant about this is that Ukrainian forces seem to increasingly be finding enterprising ways to destroy tanks and build upon their initial success with anti-armor weapons. While tanks themselves are likely not going anywhere, the war in Ukraine has highlighted the effectiveness of anti-armor weapons and tactics and also pointed to how tanks can best be employed in combat.Įxact numbers of destroyed Russian tanks can be difficult to come by, yet numerous estimates place Russian tank losses in the thousands, with many suggesting Russia has already lost more than half of its tank fleet. Ukrainian success has raised new questions about modern warfare and the combat utility of the main battle tank. There are many reasons for this, including simple Ukrainian tenacity, tactical proficiency, anti-tank weapons, and of course rockets, artillery, and armored vehicles. Russian tanks simply continue to get decimated by Ukrainian forces in the ongoing war, and the current counteroffensive may well be accelerating the pace at which Russian tanks are destroyed.

Modern warfare russian tank