Russia’s T-14 Armata Tank is in Live Combat In Ukraine

By Maya Carlin

Russia has been using its new T-14 Armata main battle tank in Ukraine since April, according to state-media outlet RIA.

Up until last week, the deployment of the Armata in combat had not been confirmed. Still, a recently released video claiming to show an Armata firing on Ukrainian positions circulated on May 16.

T-14 Armata Tank in Ukraine

While it is still unclear whether these MBTs have been accepted into service by Russia’s military, it has been confirmed that the Armata has been used to support the country’s offensive operations in Ukraine.

RIA claims that the new tanks feature extra protection on their flanks and that crews have participated in combat coordination with the Armata at training grounds.

While the Kremlin would like Kyiv to believe these new MBTs are unmatched in their capabilities, the true extent of the Armata’s prowess remains a mystery.

Earlier this year, British military intelligence reported that Russian officials were hesitant to send the Armatas to battle in Ukraine due to their poor condition. According to Al Jazeera, the British military elaborated that, “Production is probably only in the low tens, while commanders are unlikely to trust the vehicle in combat. Eleven years in development, the program has been dogged with delays, reduction in planned fleet size, and reports of manufacturing problems.”