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The Russian Federation might feel the scarcity of equipment it inherited from the USSR next year.
That’s according to The Economist.
“Although the International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that in February of this year Russia may have had about 3,200 tanks in storage to draw on […] up to 70% of them “have not moved an inch since the beginning of the war”. A large proportion of the t-72s have been stored uncovered since the early 1990s and are probably in very poor condition,” the article reads, citing the IISS experts.
They have reached a conclusion that Russian tank and infantry vehicle refurbishment from storage is expected to hit a “critical point of exhaustion” by the second half 2025.
Ironically, many Soviet weapons and components are in Ukraine, and Kharkiv was the main producer of turrets for T-72 tanks.
Additionally, it is suggested that Russia lacks workers who can maintain the necessary production.
Most intelligence sources report that in the two years of war Russia had lost about 3,000 tanks and 5,000 other armoured vehicles. For example, Dutch Oryx has either photo or video evidence of 3,235 tanks destroyed, but adds that the actual number is likely “significantly higher”.
Read also: Spain provides new Leopard tanks shipment to Ukraine
