Russia's far‑flung forces take heavy toll in Ukraine conflict
Russian units drawn from the country's farthest reaches are participating in the conflict in Ukraine, as revealed in a recent communique from the Russian Ministry of Defence. The announcement details the involvement of the Pacific Ocean Fleet's Marine Infantry tank units in the conflict.
According to the Russian Ministry of Defence, tank crews from the Far Eastern Marine Infantry have been engaged in combat around the village of Novomykhailivka. After battling for over two months, they took the town at a high cost.
Official Russian sources highlight that these tankers operate T-80BMW tanks, the most advanced version of the T-80 introduced in 2017.
T-80BWM – the pinnacle of the Russian military's armour
Designed for operations in arctic conditions, the T-80BWM boasts a turbine engine favoured for its low-temperature performance over traditional diesel engines.
While supplied to units as new, these tanks are not entirely new. Similar to the American Abrams tanks, which were constructed using stored armoured shells to create "new" tanks, the T-80BWMs are based on the older T-80 tanks (specifically the T-80U variant). Due to losses, there are plans to resume production of new vehicles.
Key features have been enhanced in comparison to the original model. Firepower has been augmented by the 2A4M6-4 cannon, which features improved barrel rigidity and can withstand pressures up to 94000 psi. The cannon benefits from a new stabilization system and the modern Sosna-U sight.
According to Russian statements, the Relikt modular armour and extra screens have also bolstered the tank's protection, boosting resistance by 40 per cent. The T-80BWM also includes a more powerful engine, the GTD-1250. These tanks are valued not only by the Russians but also by Ukrainians, who have captured and used them.
Pacific Fleet's Marine Infantry
Though the official announcement from the Russian Ministry of Defence does not address this, the Far Eastern units – specifically the 40th and 155th Marine Infantry Brigades – have suffered significant losses in the conflict.
These losses were attributed to the extent of the conflict and, notably in the war's early stages, to the inadequate training of the Russian soldiers. The 155th Brigade was notably decimated, in part during the conflict for Vuhledar, and it also has a notorious history of committing massacres in Bucha and Irpin.
