T-90: Russia praises it, Oryx reports losses in Ukraine.
Putin considers the T-90 to be the top MBT, emphasizing its Indian production; Oryx confirmed with images that at least 203 T-90s were lost in Ukraine, including 11 T-90S and 146 T-90M.
Russian President Putin called the T-90 one of the best main battle tanks, while also highlighting India's domestic production capabilities for the platform. Meanwhile, data confirmed by Oryx with imagery shows that Russia lost at least 203 T-90 tanks in the Ukrainian battlefield. These two contrasting pictures raise questions about the combat effectiveness and survivability of the T-90 against modern threats.
Overview
Putin's remarks came amid growing doubts about the performance and survivability of Russian armored units in Ukraine. He emphasized: “India produces our famous T-90 tanks. Believe me when I say that this MBT is considered one of the best in the world.” At the same time, independent reports from Oryx indicated significant losses of the T-90 series.
The loss figures have been confirmed.
The open-source intelligence group Oryx reports that Russia lost at least 203 T-90 tanks during the war. Specifically, the list includes 11 export-standard T-90S tanks (originally intended for sale to foreign customers but delivered to the Russian Army) and 146 modernized T-90M Proryv tanks. Oryx emphasizes that this figure only reflects cases confirmed by photographic evidence, and is therefore considered conservative.
| Category | Data |
|---|---|
| Total number of T-90 tanks lost (confirmed by images) | At least 203 |
| Including the T-90S | 11 |
| This includes the T-90M Proryv | 146 |
The version and upgrade have been confirmed.
The T-90M is the latest version, manufactured by UralVagonZavod. Compared to previous variants, the T-90M has been upgraded in terms of armor, electronics, and fire control systems. According to Moscow, the Proryv has been widely deployed in the Russian Army and is considered a core pillar in the modernization of the armored forces.
Threatening environment in Ukraine
Battlefield data indicates that the T-90 is vulnerable to Western anti-tank weapons currently used by the Ukrainian Army. Threatening systems include:
- Javelin anti-tank missile
- FPV drones
- Artillery on the M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle.
These threats help explain why Oryx has confirmed high T-90 losses, even though this is only the number with visual evidence.
Manufactured and operated in India.
Putin emphasized the long-standing defense relationship between Moscow and New Delhi, stating that Russia not only exports weapons but also transfers sensitive manufacturing technology. “India remains a reliable defense partner of Russia. We not only sell technology but also share it, something rare in the field of military-technical cooperation.”
India's T-90S variant is manufactured under license at the Heavy Armor Plant (HVF) in Avadi, using kits supplied by Russia combined with domestically produced components. India is currently the largest foreign operator of the T-90, with over 1,100 vehicles in service and hundreds more on order under previous agreements.
Objective assessment
Russian President Putin's statements emphasize the combat effectiveness and industrial superiority of the T-90, particularly its production capabilities in India. In contrast, Oryx's data provides an independent perspective on losses verified by imagery, highlighting the challenges the T-90 faces against modern anti-tank weapon systems in Ukraine.
Both sources reflect different aspects: official statements about the platform's effectiveness and durability, contrasted with verified battlefield loss data. Information in this article is based on cited statements and data from Oryx; according to India Today.
