In a surprising development, the Ukrainian partisan group Atesz has reported the sighting of Russia's advanced T-90M Proryv tanks near St. Petersburg.
At Least Ten Tanks
According to Tech this observation is particularly noteworthy given the city's proximity to NATO member states Estonia and Finland, rather than the ongoing conflict zones in Ukraine.
According to Atesz, a convoy of at least ten T-90M tanks was seen in St. Petersburg, approximately 150 kilometers from the nearest NATO border. This location is over 800 kilometers from the Ukrainian front lines, making the presence of these tanks in the region an unusual occurrence.
The tanks were reportedly transported from Sertolovo, a nearby city known for its military training grounds where new Russian soldiers are prepared for deployment.
Putins Pride
The T-90M Proryv, dubbed "Putin's pride," is the latest model in Russia's T-90 tank series, which has been in service since the early 1990s. This tank boasts a 125 mm 2A46M-5 main gun, enhanced fire control systems, and reactive armor known as Relikt. It is powered by a 1000-horsepower engine, allowing it to reach speeds of up to 65 km/h. Each unit is estimated to cost around $4.5 million.
Atesz has previously provided valuable intelligence on Russian military movements, including the discovery of the Pantsir-S1 air defense system protecting President Putin's residence in Sochi. The group also highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by Russia's military industry, exacerbated by Western sanctions.
