Russian tanks in Ukraine: Outdated forces meet drone warfare
Russian military bloggers are increasingly discussing the low effectiveness of tank attacks conducted by units fighting in Ukraine. Some even claim that tank offensives have become "suicide missions" for the crews.
The cause of this situation is attributed to the drones used by Ukrainians on a large scale. These are mostly FPV (first person view) drones, small commercial unmanned aerial vehicles modified for military purposes. They carry a few kilograms of explosives and provide pilots with a real-time view until impact (they operate on a kamikaze weapon principle).
Russian tanks facing problems in Ukraine
According to Forbes analyst David Axe, Russian military bloggers speak increasingly harshly. In one of the latest posts, there were sarcastic remarks labelling the commanders behind such "suicidal attempts" as "geniuses." Ineffective tank attacks and the subsequent destruction of tanks, according to some Russian commentators, only "provide uplifting content for the Ukrainian armed forces."
David Axe also stated in his publication that ineffective tank attacks do not mean that Russians are ceasing to make progress. Their successes on some parts of the front are, however, mainly due to the use of infantry supported by artillery and drones. From the Ukrainians' perspective, this is a problem because such tactics can pressure them into repelling attacks using their own infantry. Another year of war, however, shows that manpower shortages are a greater issue for the defending army than for the Russians.
Russians sending old tanks into battle
For several months, growing issues have been observed with the Russians in replenishing equipment losses they are incurring at the front. In the case of tanks, this translates to the necessity of using machines pulled from depleting stockpiles of old Soviet-era equipment, which are often in poor technical condition and do not meet modern standards.
Tanks like the T-64 or T-62 from the 1960s, and even older T-55/54 family tanks, are increasingly spotted in Ukraine. Not only do they not offer the crews significant offensive capabilities (and due to the lack of thermal vision, they are practically "blind" on the battlefield), but they also do not protect against anti-tank weapons, not even against the aforementioned drones.
