“They have not yet participated in direct assault operations,” RIA cited a source on Tuesday. Instead, Russia has begun firing its new T-14 Armata battle tanks against Ukrainian positions.
According to RIA, the tanks have “combat coordination” at Ukrainian training grounds and flank protection.
The T-14 tank’s unmanned turret is controlled by “an isolated armoured capsule located in the front of the hull.”
According to RIA, tanks can go 80 km/h (50 mph) on highways.
British military intelligence stated in January that Russian soldiers in Ukraine hesitated to accept the first batch of tanks owing to their “poor condition.”
It also called the T-14 deployment “a high-risk decision” for Russia and a propaganda move.
“Production is probably only in the low tens, while commanders are unlikely to trust the vehicle in combat,” the British military warned.
“Delays, fleet size reductions, and manufacturing issues have plagued the program for eleven years.”
According to Russian media, the Kremlin requested 2,300 of the 2015-unveiled tanks by 2020. However, this was later extended to 2025.
In December 2021, Interfax reported that Rostec had begun manufacturing 40 tanks for delivery after 2023.
