Russia Is Running Out of Tanks

Russia is still attacking in Ukraine, but it’s making less progress than before.

In March 2025, Russian forces captured only 240 square kilometers of land—the smallest gain in four months. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this slowdown suggests that Russia’s army is struggling more than ever.

One big reason: tanks. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), a UK think tank, says Russia has lost around 1,400 tanks since the beginning of 2024. That’s the same as losing four full tank divisions.

At this rate, experts believe Russia can only keep going until 2027—unless something changes.

Thousands of Tanks in Storage—But Most Don’t Work

On paper, Russia still has thousands of tanks.

But many are in poor condition and stored outside, exposed to the weather. A Ukrainian report based on satellite images shows that Russia has:

• 3,463 tanks sitting outdoors

• 1,253 tanks at repair factories

• 2,000 tanks in protected warehouses

But not all of these tanks work. Many are just empty shells—missing engines, weapons, or key parts. In some cases, tanks are too old or damaged to be fixed at all.

Russia’s best tanks were stored indoors with heating and ventilation, but according to experts, most of these have already been used or taken apart for spare parts.

Tank Factories Can’t Keep Up

In 2022, Russian factories were fixing about 120 tanks a month.

Now, they can only manage 30 to 35 tanks each month. That’s not nearly enough to replace the tanks being lost on the battlefield.

Building new tanks from scratch is even slower and more expensive. Experts say that by the second half of 2025, Russia may run out of tanks that are in good enough condition to repair.

Fighting Slows Down Across the Front Line

Russian troops are still pushing forward in some areas, but in many key regions—like Kharkiv, Siversk, and Dnipro—they haven’t gained any new ground. Even in places where they are advancing, the gains are small. At the same time, Ukraine has made some limited progress near Toretsk in Donetsk.

In total, Russia has gained about 4,772 square kilometers of land since April 2024, while Ukraine has taken back just 77 square kilometers. But in March 2025, Russia gained 150 square kilometers less than the month before, showing that its progress is slowing.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s own attack inside Russia’s Kursk region has almost ended. What began as a 1,300-square-kilometer push is now down to just 80 square kilometers.

Over the last year, Russia has made small but steady gains in Ukraine—capturing less than 1% more of the country’s territory. But now, with its tank losses adding up and factories unable to catch up, it may be heading into trouble.