Open-source researchers have found evidence that Moscow is dusting off Stalin-era tanks — some first deployed more than 70 years ago — and shipping them west.
obtained by the Tbilisi, Georgia-based Conflict Intelligence Team, T-54 and T-55 tanks from the 1940s were spotted aboard a train departing from Arsenyev in the Primorsky Krai region of Russia’s Far East, heading west. Russia’s 1295th Central Tanks and Repair Storage Base is in Arsenyev.
The T-54s were adopted by the Soviet army in the mid-1940s when leader Joseph Stalin was in power. The T-55 series entered service in 1958.This is not the first instance of Russia turning to old tanks. Last year, an elite Russian unit was found to be using T-62 tanks in Ukraine — Soviet-era tanks that were introduced in 1961. But the CIT’s report noted that this is the first recorded instance of T-54 and T-55 tanks being taken out of storage.
“Each tank loss is the loss of a tank crew as well as the tank, after all, and it is not clear how effective these tanks will be against Ukrainian armored vehicles,” ISW said. “They are highly vulnerable to many antitank systems available to Ukraine.” “Russian armored vehicle losses are currently constraining the Russian military’s ability to conduct effective mechanized maneuver warfare,” ISW wrote. “Russian forces may be deploying T-54/55 tanks from storage to Ukraine to augment these offensive operations and prepare for anticipated mechanized Ukrainian counteroffensives.”
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Slovakia delivers first 4 Soviet-era MiG-29 jets to UkraineBRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) — The first four of 13 Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets that Slovakia decided to give Ukraine have been safely handed over to the Ukrainian air force, the Slovak Defense Ministry said on Thursday.
Read more »
Ukraine's Abrams tanks boost is terrible news for RussiaThe first tranche of deliveries is likely to be part of a longer-term flow of tanks to Ukraine, experts say.
Read more »
Live blog: China should urge end of Russian offensive in Ukraine — USUS says it does not want any ceasefire in Ukraine 'right now' and urges China to press Russia to end its offensive of Ukraine — now in its 392nd day Follow our live coverage👇
Read more »
Russia tightens ties with China as West offers $16 billion lifeline to UkraineRussia tightens ties with China as West offers $16 billion lifeline to Ukraine – by anilpanchal7 RussianFederation Ukraine NewsTrading RiskAversion China
Read more »
Ukraine war: Russia tightens ties with China as West offers $16 bln lifeline to KyivXi Jinping and Vladimir Putin cemented friendship between China and Russia and jointly criticised the West, which moved to buttress Ukraine against Moscow's invasion with nearly $16 billion in financial aid and faster delivery of battle tanks.
Read more »
Ukraine war: As Russia tightens ties with China, West offers $16 billion lifeline to KyivChina's President Xi Jinping was due to depart Moscow on Wednesday after a grandiose display of solidarity with Russian President Vladimir Putin against the West, but without offering direct support for Putin's war in Ukraine.
Read more »