Russian propaganda blunder: T‑90M tanks misidentified
Russian propaganda has made another blunder. They released a video supposedly showing the destruction of two Ukrainian tanks. However, the truth was quite different, as the footage actually showed Russian tanks. Moreover, these tanks were their most valuable T-90M models.
The event presented by the Russians occurred in the Donetsk region, specifically in the Pokrovsk direction. However, that's the only detail that aligns with the narrative they described on social media.
Russians did not recognize their T-90M
The Russian forces circulated the video with the intent to highlight the supposed incompetence of Ukrainian crews, since both tanks were destroyed after hitting mines. A detailed analysis of the published video by war observers in Ukraine, along with information and photos provided by the Ukrainian army regarding skirmishes in the Pokrovsk region, clearly indicate that the Russians lost two T-90M tanks there, specifically near the city of Selydove.
In July this year, it was confirmed that the number of T-90M tanks lost by the Russians in Ukraine had surpassed 100 units. According to the creators of the Oryx blog, who monitor and document Russian losses, the current count is now 120 of these machines eliminated by Ukrainians. This includes tanks that have been destroyed, damaged, or seized.
Overall, since the beginning of the war, the Ukrainians have already eliminated over 3,500 invading tanks. The losses related to the T-90M are particularly significant because it's the best and most valuable tank that Putin's army currently possesses. The price of one T-90M unit is estimated to be around CAD 6 million.
The T-90M is not without flaws
The T-90M is the latest tank in the T-90 family, introduced into service only in 2020. It has a 125 mm 2A46M-5 cannon and an improved fire control system. It comes with factory-fitted upgrades, including modular reactive armour Relikt protecting both the hull and turret. Two machine guns—calibres 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm—provide additional armaments. The machine is powered by a 1,000 horsepower engine.
The Ukrainians have gained much more insight into the T-90M than they had before the war. The captured units enabled them to conduct thorough inspections and analyses. Based on these findings, they described the T-90M as a "failure instead of a breakthrough." It deviates from the image constructed by the Kremlin (Putin himself claimed it was the best tank in the world), though it remains significantly better than older, Soviet-era designs used by Russians in Ukraine.
