Ukraine Receives Large Batch of T-72 Tanks From Poland: How is Warsaw Sustaining Deliveries?

The Ukrainian Army has reportedly received a new batch of modernised T-72 main battle tanks from Poland as part of Warsaw’s 46th military aid package to the country. Reports indicate that approximately 60 tanks were delivered, and that they have already been received by frontline units. Ukraine has received over 280 T-72M and T-72M1 tanks from Poland, and at least 194 more T-72s from the Czech Republic, with further units delivered by Bulgaria and Morocco. The T-72 was fielded in only limited numbers by the Ukrainian Army before the outbreak of full scale hostilities with Russia in February 2022, with the more capable T-64 having formed the backbone of the country’s armoured units. The lack of Soviet exports of the T-64, however, means that they are not widely fielded by Western-aligned states, in contrast to the T-72 which was inherited in significant numbers by members of the Warsaw Pact such as Poland. The tank was produced under license in Czechoslovakia, Poland and Yugoslavia, and had been developed as a less costly and simpler derivative of the T-64. Deliveries of new T-72s is considered vital to sustaining Ukraine’s warfighting capabilities, in particular due to the very high attrition rates that have been suffered by Ukrainian Army units in the Russian Kursk region. 

Poland’s capacity to supply T-72s to Ukraine has continued to increase rapidly due to the sustained deliveries of M1 Abrams tanks by the United States and K2 Black Panther tanks by South Korea, which are re-equipping Polish Army units and thus facilitating the divestment of T-72s on a large scale. The Polish Army is scheduled to receive 96 K2s from South Korea in 2025, completing a $3.4 billion order placed in August 2022 for 180 of the vehicles, with South Korea’s uniquely high production capacity for NATO-compatible main battle tanks providing key indirect support to the Ukrainian war effort. The delivery of 96 K2s in 2025 will represent a more than tripling of delivery rates compared to the preceding two years. Following the completion of deliveries of the first 180 K2 tanks in 2025, the Polish Army will from 2026 begin to receive the first of 820 further tanks from South Korea, which will bring total fleet to 1000 tanks. Tanks delivered from 2026 will be locally assembled in Poland, and will be customised with reinforced armour, a new active protection system, and a locally developed battlefield management system. Their delivery will further significantly increase Poland’s ability to resupply Ukrainian forces.

Alongside T-72s, Ukraine has received significant numbers of Leopard, Leopard 2, Challenger 2 and M1A1 Abrams Western built tanks. Although Western sources widely hailed the delivery of these vehicles as a game changer for the theatre, they would quickly suffer considerable losses leading their effectiveness to be reevaluated. In December 2024 U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan concluded that Abrams tanks were “not useful” for Ukraine’s war effort, citing the tank class as an example of how many kinds of American weapons did not have the desired impact in the theatre. “When it comes to Abrams tanks, we sent Abrams tanks to Ukraine… These Abrams tank units are actually undermanned because it’s not the most useful piece of equipment for them in this fight,” he stated. Summarising the issues with operating the tank class, U.S. Undersecretary for Defence for Policy Colin Kahl previously warned: “The challenge with the Abrams is, it’s expensive. It’s difficult to train on. It is very difficult to sustain. It has a huge, complicated turbine engine that requires jet fuel… Frankly, our assessment is just that the Abrams is not the right capability at this time.” This mirrored similar criticisms of Western tank classes supplied to Ukraine, namely the Challenger 2 and Leopard 2. Over 20 of the 31 Abrams tanks delivered to Ukraine are now thought to have been destroyed, disabled or captured. The T-72’s ease of maintenance and lower crew requirements has thus made it particularly highly prized.