Russia’s war in Ukraine may be approaching a critical juncture. According to the latest satellite images analysed by OSINT experts – specialists in intelligence gathered from open sources – Moscow has almost completely run out of serviceable, stored tanks.

Big problems in Putin’s army?

This moment marks a significant milestone in the evolution of the conflict and could have serious long-term consequences for Russia’s military capabilities.

Before the war began, Russia possessed roughly 7,300 stored tanks. Today, that number has dwindled to around 2,500, and of these, only 92 have been classified as being in “decent” condition.

The rest fall into the “poor” or “worse” categories. Most of the remaining operational tanks were located at Base 904 in Crimea, one of the key logistics hubs for the Russian army – meaning these vehicles are likely already on their way to the front lines.

Russia almost out of working tanks?

t-62 russian tank russia ukrainian war in ukraine
Russian T-62 and T-62M tanks being transported. Photo by Wikimedia Commons

The most recent imagery shows that the storage bases are now almost empty, and the easily repairable examples of the more modern T-72B, T-80 and T-90 models have been exhausted.

As a result, Moscow has been forced to mobilise and modernise older T-72A variants. Interestingly, OSINT analysts predicted back in April 2024 that this situation would not occur until early 2026 – reality, it seems, has arrived much sooner than expected.

While this does not suggest an imminent collapse of the Russian army, the shortage of tanks will have a gradual but noticeable impact on the battlefield. The vehicles withdrawn from storage are first sent to maintenance or refurbishment plants before being deployed to the front.

According to the Oryx database, the Kremlin has already lost more than 4,100 tanks, meaning that the depletion of reserves is becoming an increasingly serious issue.

The factories cannot produce them fast enough

The current pace of production is also insufficient to offset the losses: Russian factories are turning out roughly 90–100 tanks per month, 90 per cent of which are refurbished vehicles.

Only a handful of new, modern T-90M models are being produced. However, the refurbishment of badly deteriorated tanks requires more time and manpower, which could easily slow down overall production.

This situation may force Moscow to rely increasingly on infantry assaults instead of armoured offensives. The shift is already visible on the ground: recent frontline reports mention fewer tank attacks, replaced by vast trench networks, drone-monitored “no man’s lands,” and infantry-led assaults stretching across many kilometres.