At Russian storage and repair bases, tanks of this type suitable for restoration have effectively been depleted. Since the second half of 2025, Uralvagonzavod has not delivered a single refurbished T-72B from long-term storage, says military expert Oleksander Kovalenko.
The tanks that have reached the troops were either previously modernized units or heavily damaged vehicles repaired directly at the plant.
Shift toward older models and technical compromises
The facility has now largely shifted to restoring earlier variants, primarily T-72A tanks, sourced from storage facilities, including the 349th and 2456th storage centers. The total stock is estimated at 800–900 units, though only about 500 may be realistically suitable for refurbishment.
There is no comprehensive modernization program for the T-72A. Only limited concepts are being considered, including conversion into support vehicles or experimental platforms that have not been fully implemented.
The expert says that during battlefield recovery, tank turrets are often removed from damaged vehicles. It is possible that more heavily protected T-72B turrets could be mounted onto T-72A hulls as a forced technical workaround.
Resource depletion reshapes role of defense industry
According to Kovalenko, with current losses estimated at around 100 tanks per month, existing refurbishment rates may prove insufficient even if the intensity of armored warfare declines.
Experts note that Uralvagonzavod is increasingly shifting from a manufacturer of new equipment to a facility focused on restoring obsolete platforms.
“Within a year to a year and a half, the plant could become a rudimentary element of Russia’s tank industry, similar to what has happened to Omsktransmash,” one analyst said.
Previsly, the investigation found that European equipment for Russia’s military-industrial complex continues to operate despite sanctions. The Czech industrial group Alta formally announced its withdrawal from the Russian market after the start of the full-scale war, but it still helps Russia's war machine.
This includes machine tools and technical maintenance for Uralvagonzavod and the Motovilikha Plants.
