In the fifth year of its full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia has lost over 12,000 tanks, with a total estimated value of approximately $30 billion USD
Today, June 24, 2026, marks 4 years and 4 months since the beginning of Russia’s large-scale invasion of Ukraine. During this time, the world has witnessed many records. But Russia has set one record for itself – the record for the fastest disposal of its own armored vehicles.
Every day, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine publishes figures on Russian army losses. For some, it’s just statistics. For others, it’s just another line in the morning report. But behind every number are millions of dollars that will never return to the Russian budget.
As of June 24, 2026, according to the Ukrainian General Staff, 12,056 tanks of the russian army have been destroyed. These are not just military losses. According to expert estimates, the value of the destroyed russian tanks exceeds $30 billion USD (taking into account older T-72s and newer T-90s, the average estimate is $2.5 million per tank). This is a colossal financial blow to a state that chose to build an empire instead of building roads, schools, and hospitals.
Every knocked-out T-72, T-80, or T-90 represents two to five million dollars. Every burned tank is a new school that will never appear in a russian province. It’s a hospital that will never be built in Siberia. It’s a water pipeline that will never be laid in a forgotten district center. It’s a bridge that will remain only on the blueprints of local officials.
While russian propaganda speaks of the “greatness of the state,” the state itself is forced to pull equipment from storage that still remembers the Soviet Union.
At one time, the russian leadership boasted of having the world’s largest tank fleet. Today, these tanks are burning en masse on Ukrainian soil or standing in queues at repair plants. And this, perhaps, is the most accurate indicator of the effectiveness of Ukrainian resistance. Because war is not just about territories. War is also about economics. About resources. About a state’s ability to withstand the strain for years.
The Kremlin continues to spend billions on producing new tanks, repairing old vehicles, paying compensation to families of the fallen, and supplying its occupation army. Instead, Ukrainian warriors are reducing this resource every single day.
In fact, the Defense Forces of Ukraine are carrying out the largest disposal of russian military potential in modern history.
And most importantly – these losses cannot be quickly replenished. A tank can be assembled. It can be repaired. You can even take an old vehicle from storage and send it to the front. But you cannot bring back the time, resources, and money that have already been burned in the war. Especially when the war is being waged not to defend your own country, but for foreign land and imperial ambitions.
That is why the daily reports from the General Staff are not just statistics of enemy combat losses. They are also a financial statement of how Russia is destroying its own future with its own hands. And while the russian hinterland awaits new roads, modern hospitals, and decent living conditions, the Kremlin continues to send more tanks to Ukrainian soil. So that tomorrow, they will add to the statistics of the Ukrainian General Staff. And become yet another reminder of the cost of imperial fantasies.
Author: Ivan Arefiev
Collage: Andrii Atlantov
Photo from open sources
