Russia has depleted half of its pre-war stockpile of armored vehicles, according to ISW.

In 2024, the Defense Forces destroyed or damaged over 3,000 Russian tanks and nearly 9,000 pieces of armored vehicles. This is three times more than in the first two years of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. 

This information is reported in the summary from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

"The current production rates of armored vehicles and tanks in Russia indicate that such losses are likely to be disproportionately high in the long term, especially as Russia continues to deplete its Soviet-era stocks," analysts note. 

Experts cite data from military observer Konstantin Mashovets. In February 2024, he stated that the Russian defense industry (VPK) can produce 250-300 "new and thoroughly modernized" tanks per year and can repair approximately 250-300 additional damaged tanks annually. Over the past year, the Russians lost 3,600 tanks. 

According to OSINT researchers, as of December 22, Russian forces have 47% of their pre-war tank reserves, 52% of pre-war infantry combat forces, and 45% of pre-war armored personnel carrier reserves. "Russian troops have used most of their new T-90 and T-80 tanks, but still retain the majority of their old tanks in storage, although some of these tanks are likely to be severely worn from exposure to the elements and time. It seems increasingly unlikely that the Russian military will be able to sustain the current annual rate of nearly 9,000 armored vehicle losses by 2025," the institute believes. This is almost three times more than in the first two years of the war.

Last February, the British analytical center International Institute for Strategic Studies reported that Russia could experience losses of its equipment until 2025 and possibly into 2026. This estimate is no longer accurate, according to ISW.

It has been reported that in recent weeks, Russian forces have used less armored equipment in the most active areas of the front line, likely to preserve their equipment as Soviet stocks dwindle. In the Kurakhiv direction, the enemy is deploying infantry for assaults, using armored vehicles only for fire support. In the eastern directions, the Russians are increasingly using electric scooters, motorcycles, and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs).

Background. Earlier, Mind reported that the Armed Forces of Ukraine attacked Russian troops from several directions in the Kursk region. This led to "great distress" for the enemy.