Kyiv has only a few copies
Rare Ukrainian tank spotted on Kharkiv front
29.08.2024, 22:15
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According to experts, the Ukrainian T-84 Oplot is one of the most modern battle tanks in the world. However, Kiev’s armed forces are said to have very few of them. Now a Ukrainian unit has reported the use of an Oplot in the Kharkiv region.
According to a report, a rare Ukrainian battle tank is also being used in the defense of the Kharkiv region. As the pro-Ukrainian portal Defense Express reports, citing a Facebook post of the third tank brigade, the unit apparently uses the T-84 Oplot (German: fortress) in the area. The brigade writes in a photo that the Oplot is the “best Ukrainian tank”.
The unit did not provide any further details. According to Defense Express, this is a rare sighting of an Oplot since the start of the large-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. So far, only a handful of the tanks are said to have been produced for the Ukrainian armed forces.
The T-84 Oplot is a further development of the Soviet T-80. According to the Army Recognition portal, the improvements include a more powerful engine, better armor and a more advanced fire control system. The first prototype was manufactured in Kharkiv in 1994 and was further improved in 1999 and put into service with the Ukrainian army as the T-84U Oplot.
With a 1200 hp engine, the battle tank is said to be able to reach speeds of up to 75 kilometers per hour on the road and 50 kilometers per hour off-road, making it superior to comparable Russian developments. In addition, the T-84U Oplot is also said to be able to reach speeds of up to 35 kilometers per hour in reverse – ideal for quick changes of position and retreat movements. The most recent development in active use to date is the Oplot-M, which entered service in 2009.
Although the Oplot is one of the most modern battle tanks in the world according to Army Recognition, not many examples have been used in the fight against the Russian invaders. The US magazine “Forbes” reported in May 2022 that the Kharkiv-based Malyshev plant had handed over only ten units to the Ukrainian army. In addition to the high cost of about four million US dollars per unit, the military leadership did not give the purchase a high priority because it still had many working T-64s from the Soviet era. According to reports, the 3rd tank brigade has one Oplot, and additional units are said to be in service with the 14th mechanized brigade.
Ukraine is said to have given four of its ten Oplots to the US military for evaluation. It is possible that no more than six Ukrainian Oplot battle tanks were ever used in the war against Russia. International Institute for Strategic Studies listed only five in Ukraine’s inventory for 2021. Thailand has the most Oplots, buying 49 thirteen years ago.