Russia moves 1950s Soviet-era tanks out of storage as Ukraine continues to ‘knock out modern equipment’

Russia appears to be moving 1950s Soviet-era style tanks out of storage in the far east of the country amid concerns over the lack of modern equipment, a think tank has said.

Video circulated on social appears to show T-54 and T-55 tanks being transported from a tank repair depot in Arsenyev, in the far eastern region of Primorsky.

While it is unclear if the tanks were heading to the frontline, the depot is the location of the 1295th Central Tank Repair and Storage Base, a facility for mothballed military equipment, according to The Conflict Intelligence Team, an independent Russian intelligence group.

The think tank claimed it had used transport data to determine the location of the train and had previously obtained video of a separate train carrying T-62M tanks in Yekaterinburg.

“What this tells us is that all the remaining modern tanks are in or around Ukraine. So there are no more modern tanks left in stockpiles.

“It suggests they’ve used up all the T-62s they have in service so they are down to T-55s,” Ben Barry, an armoured warfare expert at the think tank told The Daily Telegraph.

“It suggests the Ukrainians are continuing to knock out their modern tanks and the proportion of modern tanks being used against Ukraine begins to decline – at a time when the West is supplying modern tanks.”

While not verified, the Ukrainian military has claimed that 3,557 Russian tanks have been destroyed as of March 22.

In contrast, multiple countries have announced tank shipments for Ukraine in order to bolster the war effort. Crucially, multiple European countries have pledged to send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

Despite this, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said earlier this month that western allies must “act faster” in providing weapons for his country’s war with Russia, warning delays could lead to more casualties.