The 22nd Ukrainian Brigade operates modern T-72 tanks, but also some of the most outdated models, reflecting the patchwork state of many Kiev units.
Oleg Marzoev, a reserve officer in the Russian army, posted a video on June 29 of Ukrainian tanks that were disabled during a failed raid near the village of Zherebyanki in Zaporizhzhia province. The notable thing in the video is that the T-72 tank of the 22nd Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian army is equipped with the heavy-duty wheels of the much older T-62 tank.
This image reflects the reality that the Ukrainian army is having to deploy brigades equipped with "patchwork" tanks to the battlefield to reinforce the fighting force on the Zaporizhzhia front, in the context of units using Western weapons suffering heavy losses in the counter-offensive campaign.
A Ukrainian T-72 tank is seen abandoned near the village of Zherebyanki in Zaporizhzhia province in a video released on June 29. Video: Telegram/marzoev_oleg .
The Ukrainian army has formed more than 20 new brigades to serve the large-scale counteroffensive campaign launched at the beginning of the month. Nine of these brigades were trained abroad and equipped with tanks, armored vehicles and NATO-standard weapons. These are considered modern, battle-hardened and well-coordinated units that will play a leading role in Ukraine's long-awaited counteroffensive campaign.
The rest are mixed brigades, equipped with Soviet-era equipment combined with a few battalions using Western weapons. One of these is the 22nd Mechanized Brigade, a unit of about 2,000 troops, operating PT-91, T-72AMT and T-72 Ural main battle tanks.
"The combined brigades are considered the backbone of the Ukrainian army as the war enters its 17th month. It is worth noting that these units have not appeared on the front line, they are still training in safe areas in northern and western Ukraine, or hiding in the rear to be ready to deploy when ordered," said David Axe, a military analyst for Forbes .
The Ukrainian army maintained the 22nd Mechanized Brigade after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. However, this unit and many army brigades were disbanded due to budgetary shortages in the early 2000s.
The designation "22nd Mechanized Brigade" was restored by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense late last year, as Kiev strengthened its ground forces. The country's military services created so many new brigades that they ran out of numbers to allocate according to regulations.
The 22nd Brigade began training in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv before February, but only appeared in the media from late May.
Members of the 22nd Brigade repair a PT-91 tank in late June. Photo: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense
The released images show the 22nd Brigade operating Soviet-standard equipment including BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles, BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers, 2S1 Gvozdika and 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled guns, and ZU-23 short-range anti-aircraft guns.
"The 22nd Brigade's unique feature is its tank force, which includes at least one battalion with 30 tanks of three different versions of the T-72. This unit possesses one of the newest and most modern variants of the T-72, alongside the most outdated and underpowered models," Axe said.
The best tank in service with the 22nd Brigade is the Polish-made PT-91. It is based on the T-72M1, a stripped-down export version of the Soviet T-72A, with a new engine, transmission, fire control system, sight, and autoloader. It is also equipped with Polish-made Erawa explosive reactive armor.
The resulting tank has a similar appearance, crew structure and firepower to the original T-72M1, but with increased speed and survivability. The most important feature is a modern fire control system with a two-dimensional stabilizer, which significantly increases the accuracy of firing on the move, replacing the primitive and constantly adjusting stabilizer of the T-72M1.
"The PT-91 is a superior tank model compared to the T-72M1 series that was introduced in the 1980s. Its modern sights and fire control system make it no less inferior to the Ukrainian domestic T-64BV series and the Leopard 2s that were aided by the West," Axe assessed.
Poland has provided Ukraine with at least 60 PT-91s and hundreds of original T-72M/M1s. 31 PT-91s appear to be assigned to the 117th Mechanized Brigade, one of the units that uses Western-standard equipment. The remaining PT-91s are distributed among several other brigades.
The remainder of the 22nd Brigade consists of T-72AMT tanks and upgraded T-72 Ural models, the latter being Ukraine's own upgrade package to enhance the combat capabilities of the Soviet-era T-72As.
Upgraded T-72 Ural tanks of the 22nd Brigade participate in training in April. Photo: Ukrainian Ministry of Defense
The T-72 Ural, introduced in 1973, was the first mass-produced variant of this tank line, using optical rangefinders. This is considered the most outdated and least combat-capable model of the T-72 line.
The improved T-72A version entered service in 1979, with increased protection thanks to the addition of composite armor, laser rangefinders and electronic fire control systems.
One drawback of the T-72 Ural and the original T-72A was the active night vision system, which included infrared headlights and sights. This left the tank vulnerable to fire when faced with forces equipped with night vision goggles.
The Ukrainian T-72AMT and Ural upgrades overcome this problem by equipping them with passive night vision goggles that amplify ambient light, making them difficult to detect with conventional night vision goggles.
However, these upgrade packages cannot help Ukraine's T-72 tanks deal with Russia's most formidable defensive weapon today, the dense minefield. This minefield, the largest in the world, is considered the biggest obstacle preventing Ukraine from penetrating the Russian defense line.
"Ukraine has lost more than 500 tanks in the fighting and has had to withdraw much of its equipment from storage, including half-century-old T-72 Urals. The 22nd Brigade is neither the best nor the worst equipped unit in Ukraine, but it is an example of how Kiev is using every source, even the most patchy, to ensure the equipment of its large new brigades," Axe said.
Vu Anh (According to Forbes )
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