The Russian group of troops "Yug" used the latest T-14 Armata tanks during a special military operation in Ukraine. This was reported to the TASS news agency by a source in the military-industrial complex.
He explained that several main combat T-14s "participated in the battle to see how the tank would manifest itself." Later, the vehicles were withdrawn from the front line, the agency interlocutor added.
source TASS
Another source said that the tank entered service with units of the Southern Military District.
"Armata" was noticed in the area of its
Officially, the use of "Armata" during the special operation was not reported. However, in May, the American magazine Military Watch Magazine wrote that the T-14 "Armata" was spotted in the area of the SVO. The publication drew attention to a video in Western social networks, which shows how a tank is firing at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU). After studying the video, the authors of the publication concluded that the new Russian tank demonstrates exceptional survivability, its invulnerability is facilitated by armor over 900 millimeters thick in combination with dynamic protection "Malachite" and active protection "Afghanite".
In April, a RIA Novosti source also reported that the Russian military began using the T-14 to attack the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At the same time, he clarified that this type of equipment was not used in direct assault operations, although the Armat crews honed combat coordination at training grounds in one of the People's republics of Donbass. Also, the source noted, the tanks used in the area of the SVO have acquired additional protection of the side from enemy anti-tank ammunition.
In February, Rossiyskaya Gazeta, with reference to the Telegram channel REVERSE SIDE OF THE MEDAL, reported that T-14 Armata tanks were spotted on the border of the Rostov region. "Judging by the fact that the May 9 parade is not coming soon, we all understand where they are being transferred. I will not attach a photo, I am not in the habit of helping our opponents," the author of the channel claimed.
At the same time, footage of the use of the T-14 Armata in the special operation zone appeared on the network. The video was published by the Telegram channel "Military officers of the Russian Spring". A short video shows how a combat vehicle is standing in a field and firing a cannon.
The superiority of "Armata" over Abrams and Leopard was recognized in the West
Earlier, Le Figaro columnist Charles Lecourier described Armata as the most unknown term in the equation for Western intelligence. "Military experts know almost nothing about him," he said, recalling the opinion of the International Institute for Strategic Studies that the T—14 will become the main force in the Russian tank forces.
The journalist warned that the Western M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks will not cope with the Russian novelty in the event of a military clash in Ukraine. In addition, Lecourier called the tank a breakthrough in comparison with other Russian armored vehicles, and also recalled that the technologically revolutionary tank had already been used during a special military operation.
In April, retired American officer Brent Eastwood admired the "Armata". According to him, the T-14 has interesting features. In particular, the crew of three people is not housed in the tower, but is located in an armored chamber in the front of the hull. Talking about the firepower of the T-14, he pointed out that the tank's cannon is a powerful 125-millimeter smoothbore model with an automatic type of ammunition. In addition, Eastwood drew attention to the fact that the main Armata gun can fire anti-tank missiles designed to penetrate the armor of modern Western vehicles, such as the M1A2 Abrams and Leopard 2.
