The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has declared a significant achievement in the ongoing conflict, announcing that its forces have destroyed the 10,000th Russian tank since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. This milestone, reached on February 10, 2025, highlights the intense nature of combat operations in the region. Ukrainian forces have reportedly dismantled over half of Russia’s estimated tank inventory, which was around 16,970 prior to the invasion, demonstrating considerable effectiveness in battlefield engagements.
In its social media update, the Ministry expressed pride in surpassing this notable figure, showcasing the resilience and capabilities of the Ukrainian army. The post included a graphic that celebrated the achievement, reinforcing the message of ongoing strength and determination against the enemy.
While Ukraine’s claim of 10,000 destroyed tanks has received attention, open-source intelligence platform Oryx provides a contrasting assessment. Oryx estimates that approximately 3,740 Russian tanks have been neutralized overall, with about 2,672 of these confirmed destroyed. Although independent verification of these numbers is challenging, some Western sources have indicated that Ukraine’s estimates could be relatively accurate in the broader context of the conflict.
The announcement of tank losses comes amid alarming reports of personnel casualties on both sides. According to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, Russia’s personnel losses have exceeded 850,000 since the start of the war. This figure draws parallels with estimates from the US Department of Defense, reporting around 700,000 casualties, and the UK Ministry of Defence, which suggests approximately 837,000 losses.
Beyond tanks, the broader toll on Russian military resources has been staggering. Ukraine claims to have destroyed around 20,000 armored fighting vehicles, 22,879 artillery systems, and 1,273 multiple launch rocket systems. Additionally, Russia’s air defense capabilities have suffered greatly, with 1,059 systems reported as neutralized as of the February milestone.
The war has also seen a notable increase in the use of drones, with Ukraine asserting that it has destroyed at least 24,500 Russian unmanned aerial systems. Ukrainian air defense forces have been active as well, reporting victories that include the neutralization of more than 3,000 enemy cruise missiles and 370 aircraft.
As the conflict continues with no immediate resolution in sight, these figures serve to illustrate the extensive military engagements and significant losses incurred by both sides throughout this protracted struggle.
