(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) – Reports suggest that Leopard 2A4 tanks captured by Russian forces from the Ukrainian military have been incorporated into Russian armored units and are now being deployed in combat operations.
Videos circulating on social media platforms show Russian troops operating the German-made Leopard 2A4 tanks, which were reportedly seized from Ukrainian forces in battlefield engagements.
Earlier media reports indicated that Russian forces not only destroyed some Ukrainian-operated Leopard tanks but also captured several in good condition.
Some of these intact tanks were reportedly removed from the battlefield and sent to Moscow for analysis by Russian weapons experts.
Ukraine is said to have received approximately 200 Leopard tanks of various models, donated by several European countries, including Germany, since the onset of the conflict.
However, recent reports estimate that of the 200 Leopard tanks supplied to Ukraine, around 40 have been destroyed by Russian forces, according to U.S. media citing data from Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
(VIDEO: Russian Forces Operating a Captured Leopard 2A4 Tank Seized from Ukrainian Troops)
Other sources suggest Ukraine has lost more than 40 Leopard tanks provided by Western nations but has refrained from publicly acknowledging the extent of the losses to avoid damaging the morale of its frontline troops.
“Leopard tanks are highly effective and powerful with robust armor, but they remain vulnerable,” one report noted.
“Since the conflict with Russia began, approximately 40 Leopard tanks operated by Ukraine have been destroyed.”
The tanks are susceptible to anti-tank missile strikes and drone attacks, particularly from FPV (First Person View) drones, widely deployed by both sides in the conflict.
Russian media and military sources, however, claim the number of German-made Leopard tanks destroyed is significantly higher than the 40 reported by U.S. media.
Russian forces allege that Ukrainian Leopard tank losses have escalated during recent offensive operations, including in Russia’s Kursk region.
In response to mounting losses, Ukraine has started equipping its Leopard tanks with additional defense systems to protect them from drone attacks.
These systems are estimated to cost around USD 20,000 (RM87,000) per unit, adding further strain to Ukraine’s financial resources.
As of October this year, Ukraine had reportedly received 192 Leopard tanks from several European countries, including both the older Leopard 1 and the more advanced Leopard 2 variants.
Leopard tanks have played a crucial role in Ukraine’s overall military strategy, but their continued deployment on the battlefield comes with significant risks.
Reports indicate that the destruction of these tanks has weakened Ukraine’s combat capabilities, forcing Kyiv to reassess its broader military strategy.
Of all the foreign-supplied tanks provided to Ukraine, Leopards have been the most numerous, surpassing other models like the U.S.-made Abrams and the U.K.-made Challenger tanks.
Since last year, countries such as Germany and other European nations have supplied Ukraine with between 100 and 200 Leopard tanks, intended to support Ukraine’s spring counteroffensive against Russian positions.
However, shifts in Russian strategies and tactics have led to the destruction of many of the foreign-supplied tanks used by Ukraine, including Leopards and other models provided by Germany, Europe, the U.S., and the U.K.
Russian President Vladimir Putin previously stated to the country’s war correspondents that Ukraine had lost more than 160 foreign-supplied tanks. Given that Leopard tanks make up the bulk of Ukraine’s tank fleet, it is logical to conclude that a significant number of the destroyed tanks were Leopards. — DSA