Ukraine Deploys Captured T-90 Tank Putin Called 'Best in the World'

Ukrainian forces have successfully redeployed a captured tank seized from Russian forces earlier in the war, according to photos from the front lines.

In pictures taken by the Associated Press, a T-90 tank, previously described by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the "best in the world," appears to be on the front lines manned by Ukrainian soldiers near the border with Russia in the Sumy region.

OSINTtechnical, an X account monitoring the war in Ukraine, identified the vehicle as a T-90M Proryv. Such tanks have made up a large part of Russia's invading force and their losses to the Ukrainian army.

Vladimir Putin previously described the T-90 as "the world's best," as he told military reporters in 2023 that for the conflict in Ukriane, "modern anti-tank warfare systems are needed. Modern tanks are also needed.

"It can be said today that the T-90M Proryv is the world's best tank. As soon as it approaches positions, no chance is left for anyone or anything. It fires to a longer range and more accurately. It also has better protection."

According to Tass, the T-90 is equipped with a 125mm (4.92 inch) tank cannon that can fire standard munitions and missiles, with an effective range of 5 kilometers (3.1 miles). Additionally, it packs all-round armor protection and highly automated fire control.

Newsweek contacted the Russian ministry of defense and the Ukrainian military for comment.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Russian forces had lost more than 100 of the tanks to Ukraine as the war continued, making up a significant chunk of the Russian military equipment destroyed or seized since the war began.

Dutch war tracker Oryx said that the tanks were a counter to the U.S. Army's M1 Abrams tanks, supplied by Washington to Kyiv at the beginning of the war. After the destruction of around 97 of the model, tank manufacturer Uralvagonzavod supplied the Russian army with a new shipment of T-90s in February 2023.

In June, Ukraine's military claimed that it had destroyed more than 7,800 tanks, 13,400 artillery pieces, 831 air defense systems, 357 aircraft and 326 helicopters. Kyiv also claims to have eliminated over half a million Russian soldiers. An American estimate from the end of 2023 totaled the Russian casualties at around 315,000.

Putin has described these losses as "irretrievable," though he has continued to claim that Ukraine's losses are far worse, saying: "I can tell you that our losses, particularly irretrievable losses, are certainly significantly smaller than those of the opposite party."

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