Russia is reportedly keeping its top military assets off the battlefield in Ukraine over fear that losing them would damage their reputation.
A recent UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) intelligence report claimed that Moscow has not deployed its new T-14 Armata tanks to spare them from ruining their image as the country’s most advanced main battle tanks.
The invading forces have sent their T-90, T-80, and T-72 tanks to the frontline, but all of them suffered heavy losses at the hands of Ukrainian troops.
Russia’s top weapons maker Rostec also said the next-generation T-14 tanks are too expensive to use in Ukraine, with each unit allegedly costing up to $9 million.
First introduced in 2015, the Armata features thick armor, sophisticated sensors, and onboard drones to aid target identification. Its three-man crew can also remotely operate its 125-millimeter cannon from the safety of the inside of the tank.
The tank had been spotted in training exercises in southern Russia shortly after the war began, fueling concerns that it could be deployed to the frontline to challenge Western armored vehicles.
Sidelining the Su-57
This is not the first time Russia has been reported sidelining its most valuable assets in Ukraine over fear of “reputational damage.”
In 2023, reports revealed that there was only very limited evidence that the fighter jet was still seeing action in the war-ravaged nation.
According to the UK MoD, this is also highly likely due to Moscow’s efforts to limit the risk of its sensitive technologies falling into the hands of enemies once captured.
Introduced in 2020, the fifth-generation multi-role fighter aircraft was reportedly designed to destroy all types of air, ground, and naval targets.
It also outperforms its US rivals in weapon systems, robotics, radars, and electronic warfare equipment, according to Russian military expert Alexei Leonkov.
“Russia is reportedly keeping its top military assets off the battlefield in Ukraine over fear that losing them would damage their reputation.”
To lose a reputation requires the planes or tanks to have a reputation to begin with. Orc propaganda claiming these weapons are the best invention in the world is not gaining a reputation. Sending them to Ukraine will prove within a day if they will get a positive reputation, or it will be more of putlers super duper weapons that don’t live up to the hype.
Russians should be primarily concerned about feal, physical damage – they lost 21 tanks, 40 APCs and a whopping 50 artillery systems yesterday! Plus, 1250 soldiers, but army command doesn’t care about the meat bill. I can only say, once again, these numbers are unsustainable. Putin is throwing everything out of the “window of opportunity”, without regard to the waste piling up below. That’s madness. 👿
So, no showdown between Patriot and Sucker-57 jets soon? What a disappointment! 👿
I wanted to see the Armata and tow truck in action.
That tow truck really should get more media coverage. Must be a monster! 😁
Should forget about building tanks. Just slap a barrel on the tow truck.😂
Ukraine, on the other hand, introduces brand new weapons that will actually be used against the enemy:
“SSU receives naval drone with new weapons”
https://mil.in.ua/en/news/ssu-receives-naval-drone-with-new-weapons/
“This is the next generation of these drones, it hits objects with its onboard weapons and helps cheaper drones complete the mission,”
So, a coordinated attack, increasing chances for destructive hits. This looks very promising. Can’t wait for the first results! 🤞😎🇺🇦