For the first time since 2022, Ukraine may gain a tank advantage over Russia, according to Forbes.

For the first time since the onset of Russia's large-scale invasion, the Ukrainian defense forces may have an advantage over the occupiers in tank utilization. However, this advantage is only observed in specific areas of the front line, not along the entire combat contact line.

This information was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing Forbes.

According to the American magazine, this tank advantage for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) is achieved through the use of drones, which push Russian tanks back kilometers from the front line, forcing them to operate only from concealed positions away from the frontline.

Forbes noted that due to these restrictions, Russian tanks essentially become inaccurate artillery rather than assault vehicles as originally intended by their developers.

However, drones are changing the rules of war, and on the modern battlefield, robotic systems of all types are increasingly dominating.

Forbes analysts examined the testimony of a Russian blogger, translated by Estonian analyst WarTranslated.

In particular, the "military correspondent" from the aggressor country mentioned that due to restrictions on tank usage by Russian troops, Ukrainian tanks operate on the front "more freely," as the AFU has achieved "sufficient scale and diversity of their drones" and has "refined their tactics."

The publication states that Ukrainian tanks can approach the contact line directly to strike enemy targets with their cannons and machine guns.

Forbes discusses how the potential tank advantage of the AFU demonstrates a "reverse development" in Russia's large-scale war against Ukraine. At the beginning of the Russian full-scale invasion, Ukrainian brigades "rarely" fired direct shots from tanks due to the overwhelming advantage of the occupiers in artillery and aviation.

However, "tiny drones and jamming systems" are changing the battlefield and shifting the tank advantage towards Ukraine, the publication states.

It is also noted that the Russian side complains about the high intensity of radio jamming of their drones by AFU warriors, which prevents them from similarly pushing tanks further away from the front line using drones.

An exception to this new dynamic is the Kursk region, where Russian troops employ drones on fiber optics, making them impossible to jam with traditional electronic warfare means. Recently, there were reports of Russian drones destroying Ukrainian tanks in this region.

Forbes concludes that the AFU has gained a tank advantage through their drones in specific areas of the front, but the Defense Forces still face a shortage of infantry.

Tanks in the Ukrainian Army

Recall that in the summer of 2024, the Ministry of Defense announced that since the beginning of Russia's large-scale military aggression, nearly 40 types of armored vehicles, both domestic and foreign, have been put into operation in the Defense Forces of Ukraine.

At that time, the Ministry of Defense specified that the fleet of combat armored tracked and wheeled vehicles, in particular, was supplemented by tanks Abrams (American), Leopard (German), Challenger (British), and light tanks AMX-10 RC (French).

It should also be noted that, according to the specialized publication "Militarnyi", Ukraine faced Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022 mainly with Soviet military equipment and armament that the AFU had at that time.

Overall, at the beginning of 2022, the main tank in the Ukrainian army was the T-64BV, along with various modernized versions based on it. Among other things, the arsenal also included T-72 of various modifications and gas turbine T-80BV, which were updated in small numbers during major repairs or when taken out of storage.

The Military Balance report indicated that before Russia's major offensive, Ukraine had 858 operational tanks in its arsenal. A certain number of tanks were also in various technical conditions at storage bases and military factory depots.

For more details on Ukrainian tanks that were destroying the enemy army at the beginning of the large-scale invasion by Russia, read the separate article by RBK-Ukraine.