All propaganda? – Russia arrives with unloved “super tanks”.

In the Ukraine, the fronts have become increasingly hard during the cold winter months. The Kremlin now hopes for military success with the Russian-made T-14 Armata main battle tank, the effectiveness of which is already questioned. At the end of 2022, Vladimir Solovyov, Putin’s main propagandist, declared it the “best battle tank in the world” in a clip published on Telegram. The T-14, which weighs 55 tons according to the newspaper, was repeatedly described as a “super tank”.

However, according to information from British military intelligence, the use of the new device is highly controversial. It would primarily serve propaganda purposes. “Commanders probably wouldn’t trust the vehicle in combat,” the intelligence agency said in January.

Heavy and large instead of light and mobile?
The development of the tank has been fraught with difficulties and delays, and it is larger and heavier than other tanks and could therefore pose problems for supply lines. In development since 2010, the T-14 was supposed to be the exact opposite: lighter and more mobile.

Despite this, according to media reports, Russia has started firing on Ukrainian positions with its latest main battle tank from a safe distance. The state news agency RIA quotes an insider as saying that the T-14 has not yet taken part in “direct attack missions”. In addition, the British Secret Service assumes that the production of the supposed “miracle weapon” is only “a low two-digit number”.

30 percent fewer Russian casualties
Although there are doubts about the military breakthrough of the T-14, the Russian forces managed to significantly reduce casualties in April. Figures released by the General Staff of Ukraine indicate a drop from an average of 776 Russian casualties per day in March to an average of 568 in April – a drop of about 30 percent. This follows exceptionally high numbers in the period January to March.

British military intelligence describes the published data as “likely to be accurate”. However, in the current intelligence briefing, this development is not associated with military success, but rather with inaction.

“Russian casualties have most likely declined as the attempted winter offensive has failed to achieve its goal and Russian forces are now concentrating on preparations for expected Ukrainian offensive operations,” British intelligence said in a statement.

Symbolic bloodshed in Bakhmut?
The bloodiest battles are currently taking place in Bakhmut. The president of Ukraine recently announced to Al-Arabiya news channel that it is “impossible” to leave the city. A withdrawal “would broaden the front and allow the Russian forces and Wagner to take more of our country”.

Recently, criticism has become louder that the resistance is purely symbolic in nature, as the city is not attributed great strategic value. Because even if Ukrainian troops were to withdraw from the region, an “advance on the Kramatork-Slovyansk defense line would not be possible for the Russian army,” explains Russia expert Gerhard Mangott to krone.at.

Taking Bakhmut would be the first Russian success in months. “Ukraine does not want to leave this success to the Russian side. So holding this city also has symbolic and ideological significance for the Ukrainian side,” says Mangott. However, there are many indications “that the Ukrainian defenders in Bakhmut will not hold out much longer”.