Top Russian tank captured in Ukraine

One of Russia’s most advanced tanks operating in Ukraine has been captured in near-perfect condition during advances by Ukrainian troops in the Kharkiv region. The T-90M battle tank was found abandoned with one of the tracks missing. The recovery of the T-90M will provide Ukraine and Nato allies with a unique opportunity to examine Russia’s most capable operational tank. Although the Ukrainians have destroyed at least one T-90M tank since the Russian invasion began nearly seven months ago, this is the first time one has been captured and it will be seen as an intelligence gift for the Kyiv government and for the western alliance. At the start of the war in Ukraine, the Russian military deployed older-generation tanks such as the T-72 and T-80 which were built more than 40 years ago. They proved to be vulnerable to man-portable anti-tank weapons supplied by Nato and to armed drones such as the Turkish Bayraktar TB2 combat aerial vehicle. Hundreds of T-72s and T-80s have been destroyed. The T-90M was first brought into Ukraine in April, although only in small numbers. Russia’s T-14 Armata tank is more technologically advanced than the T-90M but it has not been sent to Ukraine and is yet to become officially operational. The T-90M which is also known as the Proryv-3 or Breakthrough-3, is not a revolutionary tank. The first T-90 model entered service with the Russian army in 1992. The T-90M version became operational in April 2020. However, the captured tank will still provide the alliance with valuable intelligence. It has a new gunner’s thermal sight called PNM-T which was designed using exclusively Russian-made components. Previously Russian tank manufacturers had relied on western technology for key parts but after international sanctions were introduced they were forced to depend on domestically-produced components for the gunner sights. The T-90M also has advanced protection to reduce the impact of the latest western armour-piercing tank rounds, and a new turret design. The tank’s 125mm cannon fires both standard shells and anti-tank guided missiles. A Pentagon official disclosed this week that it was possible US tanks might be supplied to Ukraine. There had been hesitation in the past about providing tanks. Other Nato allies, however, have sent tanks. The Czech Republic was the first to do so. The US has encouraged Nato countries with Russian-made tanks to help Ukraine which has its own stock of ex-Warsaw Pact tanks and armoured vehicles. But it’s the first time a senior US defence official has acknowledged that the Pentagon is also now prepared to provide tanks.