Ukraine's Soviet-era T-72 tanks have no air conditioning. Crews of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade in Zaporizhzhia Oblast are cooling themselves with water beside their tanks as a European heatwave pushes local temperatures toward 36°C, Reuters reports.
Ukraine's tank force remains predominantly made up of Soviet-era platforms such as T-64s and T-72s, with Western tanks arriving in small tranches over three years. Up to 49 additional M1 Abrams began arriving in Ukraine in mid-2025.
Russia's tank fleet has similarly leaned on aging platforms in 2026: Russian forces are fielding T-72AMs in the Kostiantynivka offensive.
Cooling with water beside tank in Zaporizhzhia heat
Sergeant Sympatiaha, a tank battalion senior sergeant with the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade, said his crew's T-72 becomes very hot after combat missions.
"The vehicle gets very hot after completing its mission. The temperature inside can become really hot," he explained.
At positions in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where active operations continue on Ukraine's southern front, tank crews cool themselves with water directly beside their combat vehicles. Local temperatures are forecast to reach approximately 36°C in the coming days.
The T-72 weighs 41 to 45 tons, and its steel hull heats rapidly in direct sunlight. The sergeant said Ukrainian defenders continue operations despite conditions.
"Despite the harsh weather conditions - scorching heat now, freezing temperatures and mud in winter - we're still holding the line. We're continuing to fight the Russian forces," he added.
