Germany revives soviet tanks from museums to train Ukrainians
Reuters agency notes that Germany is retrieving Soviet tanks from museums, and this is not without reason. The machines are needed for training Ukrainian crews.
German authorities are retrieving Soviet-made tanks from museums, as Andreas Marlow, head of the EU special training command for Ukraine, stated in a conversation with the agency. This decision aims to bring Ukrainian training closer to real conditions on the front.
Not only modern equipment on the front
Reuters agency reports that 17 countries have participated in training 18,000 Ukrainian soldiers so far. Instructors have taught the defending army how to operate modern tanks and precise air defence systems, but they have also trained snipers, engineers, medical rescuers, and drone operators.
However, it's significant that much older machines play a vital role in Ukraine among this modern equipment – the aged Soviet-era constructions are available in large quantities and effective in many proven strategies. Hence, the German army pulled old Soviet tanks from museums to better train Ukrainians.
Let's recall that the Russian side has long been using decades-old machines whose usefulness on the front is questionable. In June 2024, the media circulated recordings showing another Russian T-62 and T-62M transport heading to Ukraine. Both of these constructions are among the oldest taking part in the war in Ukraine, as they were designed in the 1960s – and constituted an update of the T-54 and T-55 series tanks. Although Germany has not disclosed which specific machines have been retrieved from museums for training, it cannot be ruled out that these include the aforementioned, and still popular, T-62 on the front.
Outdated Russian tanks
Currently, the T-62 and T-62M models are considered outdated, mainly regarding protection. Concerned about the safety of their machines, the Russians have begun installing additional shields on them, such as cages or roofs, designed to defend against attacks carried out with FPV (first-person view) kamikaze drones.
Regarding offensive potential, the T-62 tanks and their modified versions, T-62M, are significantly inferior to both NATO tanks and more advanced constructions from the USSR era. Their main armament is a smoothbore 115 mm calibre gun, which is too weak to penetrate the armour of modern military machines. Additionally, these tanks are equipped with weak engines with 580 horsepower, allowing them to reach a maximum speed of around 50 km/h.
