UK says 1,900 tanks among list of Russia's heavy losses during Ukraine war

Russia has lost significant numbers of heavy armour including 1,900 main battle tanks and suffered up to 200,000 casualties since the start of its invasion of Ukraine, the latest open-source evidence suggests.

The list of losses reveals the toll on Vladimir Putin's armed forces and military supplies since the war began, with more than 3,000 armoured combat vehicles destroyed, along with dozens of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, several naval vessels, hundreds of uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs), as well as hundreds of artillery systems.

Armed Forces Minister James Heappey revealed that Russia had "likely suffered between 175,000 and 200,000 casualties since the start of its full invasion of Ukraine in February 2022".

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"Of these," Mr Heappey said, "it is likely 40,000 to 60,000 have been killed. We do not have an estimate for the number of deserters."

He revealed the extent of Russia's significant losses in land, air, and maritime-based weapon platforms based on "credible open-source evidence" in response to a House of Commons question from Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey.

The notable Russian losses Mr Heappey listed include:

• 1,900 main battle tanks
• 3,300 other armoured combat vehicles (including infantry fighting vehicles)
• 73 crewed, fixed wing aircraft
• Several hundred uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) of all types
• 78 helicopters
• 550 tube artillery systems
• 190 rocket artillery systems
• Eight naval vessels (including one major surface combatant)

The declaration of the significant losses would explain why the Russian military is deploying "vintage" armoured personnel carriers from the 1950s to Ukraine as it continues to suffer heavy armoured vehicle losses.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) said Russia has started deploying "BTR-50 armoured personnel carriers, first fielded in 1954" for the first time in Ukraine.

The MOD also said Russia is continuing to deploy 60-year-old T-62 main battle tanks amid the losses.

'Putin has lost the plot'

Former tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon OBE believes Putin and his generals have already lost the conflict if all they can do now is send pre-WWII T34 tanks and 1950s T55 tanks to the frontline.

In contrast, Ukraine's arsenal of land vehicles is looking stronger.

British-supplied Challenger 2 main battle tanks will soon begin combat missions in Ukraine, the country's defence minister has said.

Oleksii Reznikov said the "fantastic machines" have "recently arrived" in Ukraine.

Ukraine's defence minister was all 'thumbs-up' in a video on social media showing him taking one of the Challenger 2s "for a spin".

'They have arrived!'

The Ukrainian MOD could also not hide its delight at the arrival of the land vehicles. 

"Strykers and Cougars from the US, Challengers from the UK, Marders from Germany have officially joined the Air Assault Forces of the #UAarmy! The greatest vehicles for the best soldiers. Onward!" a Twitter post said.

The German defence ministry has also revealed that the first shipment of Leopard 2 tanks from Germany has been sent to Ukraine.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he was sure the tanks could "make a decisive contribution" on the frontlines of the war.