Ukrainian forces outwit Russian T‑72B3 tank with drone and grenade

The T-72B3 tank is a cornerstone of Russian armoured warfare. Although it is viewed as a successful upgrade of the old T-72, its quality has declined. A video circulating on social media showcases the Ukrainian army claiming to have destroyed this tank with a single grenade.

The Ukrainians managed to destroy another T-72B3. One of the better tanks the Russians deployed in Ukraine, this time, was defeated by a drone armed with a grenade.

Before the conflict in Ukraine, Russian officials were proud to showcase new tanks, flaunting designs like the T-14 Armata or T-90M. They were less keen to highlight the T-72B3 tank, an upgrade of the earlier T-72.

Yet, this equipment bore the brunt of the fighting in Ukraine - the T-72B3 was the most numerous tank in Russian armoured units before the war started. In 2022, a new, upgraded version of this tank was introduced. It was this model that the Ukrainian army recently managed to destroy.

And yet another factory-new Russian T-72B3M (even the red paint on the barrel outlet hadn't had time to fade and scrape off) - as reported on social media.

The T-72B3 tank has emerged from an economical upgrade of T-72B tanks. This upgrade entailed improved optoelectronics, including a more accurate 2A45M-5 cannon and an updated loading mechanism for new anti-tank ammunition with a longer penetrator from the Świeniec family. Additionally, minor alterations were made, such as an electrical system for turret rotation.

Despite these modifications, most of the tank’s components remain the same. Only the obsolete reactive armour Kontakt-1 was substituted with the slightly more modern Kontakt-5 in machines from earlier production series. This resulted in a vehicle that, for a relatively modest investment, can offer firepower close to the newer T-90Ms but with outdated protection.