Desperate Putin’s army welcomes 70-year-old Soviet-era tanks with no upgrades to the battlefield

The first of several hundred 70-year-old Soviet-era Russian tanks appear to have been deployed to Ukraine as the Kremlin desperately replenishes its depleted resources.

On Friday, an image of a T-55 Soviet tank emerged in Zaporizhzhia, an oblast in southern Ukraine, weeks after they were filmed en route to the war-torn country.

The tank photographed appears to be from the 1950s and shows no modern upgrades – suggesting Russia is shipping the decrepit machine in an attempt to bolster its war effort.

The news comes after the first of Britain’s elite Challenger 2 and Germany’s Leopard 2 main battle tanks have arrived in Ukraine to take on Vladimir Putin’s invaders.

The news will boost Kiev’s armed forces ahead of an expected Ukrainian offensive that could prove to be a major turning point in the war.

It appears that Russian T-55 tanks have been taken out of storage and deployed in Ukraine. They were last photographed in Arsenyev, Primorsky region

According to estimates from old Soviet depots, a total of some 300 tanks can be towed with outdated technology and machinery.

Forbes reported that the image shows the same active infrared optics a 1950s T-55 would have and does not appear to show any upgraded or reinforced armor.

Instead, the Soviet-era tanks will have to fight through war-torn Ukraine with their original thin steel armor.

Retired Australian Army General Mick Ryan highlighted the mismatched tanks in his recent Substack newsletter.

The Ukrainians have improved the quality of their tanks and other vehicles with the infusion of Western aid.

The Russians, having lost much of their best equipment in the first year of the war, are turning to much older tanks and armored vehicles from Cold War stockpiles.

He stressed that this will have a major impact on the battlefield “not only because of the age and technological differences in vehicles,” but also because Russian troops will know they cannot compete when faced with much more modern technology.

“Imagine you are the tank crew of an old Russian tank, which is three to four times your age. And imagine being notified that you will be up against the latest western tanks.

“Regardless of what the ridiculous Russian propaganda tells us, this will have a major impact on Russian morale.”

The old T-55 originally entered production under Nikita Khrushchev in 1958. The tank stems from a generation of arsenal that evolved from World War II to now standard equipment.

The main shortcomings of these tanks, analysts argue, are a lack of analysts call the lack of rangefinders, ballistic computers, primitive sights and adequate weapon stabilization.

Obsolete Soviet-era T-55 tanks were pictured last month on a train being transported through Russia destined for the frontline of the war in Ukraine

T-54/T-55 vs. T-62: Reports from Russia suggest Vladimir Putin is taking Soviet-era tanks out of storage to bolster his heavy armor in Ukraine

Ukrainian soldiers return from heavy fighting during the Russian attack on Ukraine, close to Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 14, 2023

Ukrainian soldiers return from heavy fighting amid Russian attack on Ukraine, close to Bakhmut, Ukraine April 15, 2023

The deployment points to a serious problem for the Kremlin and the supply of armored vehicles to Russian troops.

Russia, as well as Ukraine, relies heavily on Ukraine’s Soviet-era T-72 tanks, which have been destroyed by the thousands in more than a year of fighting.

Russia has also deployed about 1,000 of its advanced T-90 tanks to Ukraine, compared to about 5,000 T-72s. The £4 million T-90 is said to be one of the best tanks in the world and has improved armor and missile protection systems – compared to the T-72 – which theoretically make it more difficult to destroy.

This comes after the first of Britain’s Challenger 2 main battle tanks arrived in Ukraine last month.

The UK announced in January that it would send 14 of the tanks to Ukraine in preparation for a possible counter-offensive against Russian forces.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov wrote on Twitter that the tanks had “recently arrived in our country” and posted a video showing him in one of a long line of tanks in an open field, all wearing the yellow and blue flag of Ukraine.

“It was a pleasure to test the first Ukrainian Challenger 2 MBT (main battle tank),” wrote Reznikov. “These fantastic machines will soon begin their combat missions,” he added, tagging both British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Wallace.

In the video, he gave a thumbs up and thanked British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace for the tanks roaring across the muddy field.