The tanks lost by the Russian armies in Ukraine have been the subject of numerous publications since the start of the conflict in Ukraine, two years ago. However, if during the first half of the conflict these losses were often interpreted as a sign of the progressive exhaustion of the Russian armies, optimism has since given way to increasing pessimism, while Russian industries have significantly increased their capacities. of delivery, to the point of compensating, it seems, for their instantaneous losses, if not since the start of the conflict.

A recent analysis of satellite images of the storage areas of Russian armored equipment, inherited from the Soviet Union, now allows us to better understand the current dynamics, and the sustainability of the effort produced by Moscow, to overcome Ukrainian defenses. . And the conclusions are hardly encouraging.

9,000 armored vehicles lost by Russia in 2 years of war in Ukraine
It is true that the Russian armies have suffered appalling losses since the start of the offensive against Ukraine. According to analyses, it seems that they have lost, in two years of combat, 9,000 armored vehicles, but also more than a hundred fixed-wing planes, and as many rotary wings, while from 100,000 to 150 000 Russians would have lost their lives.

Let us note, first of all, that, concerning armored vehicles, these figures must be taken with a certain caution. Not that the armored vehicles counted were not put out of action, but we do not know the number of vehicles recovered and put back into combat condition by the Russians.

This figure is all the higher as, from now on, the lines move little, which better allows Russian engineers to bring damaged armored vehicles back to sorting and repair centers. The same goes, moreover, on the Ukrainian side.

However, in many areas, the cumulative losses of the Russian army in Ukraine exceed the inventory of the French, British, German, Polish, Italian and Spanish armies, combined. Remember that losses half as large, over a period of time five times longer, convinced Moscow to withdraw from Afghanistan in 1989.

However, here, neither the Kremlin, nor the Russian armies, nor public opinion in Russia, seem to show the slightest sign of exhaustion or contestation vis-à-vis this campaign of aggression, built on arguments which the Russians themselves know to be fanciful. Worse still, the Russian authorities, led by Vladimir Putin, appear more confident than ever in the prospect of victory in Ukraine.

Russian military industry delivered 1,300 tanks and 2,400 armored vehicles of uncertain profile
It must be said that, in recent months, the balance of power has gradually evolved in favor of the Russian armies. These receive, in fact, much more new or repaired equipment, but also ammunition, and men, than the Ukrainian armies can mobilize, on their side.

Thus, researchers Yohann Michel and Michael Gjerstad, from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), published on February 12, a study on Russian losses , but also on the renewal of their equipment, which can explain, in part at least, the confidence displayed by the Kremlin in recent months.