Ukraine appears to have destroyed a rare Soviet-era armored fighting vehicle (AFV), designed in the 1970s as a means of transport for senior Kremlin officials in the event of a nuclear attack.
A video posted on
The Ladoga’s appearance on today’s battlefield could highlight Russia’s struggle to replace its rapidly dwindling reserves of tanks and armored vehicles.
Business Insider has not been able to independently verify these claims, but AFV recognition, a social media account that tracks Russian armored vehicles confirmed to BI that it believed the vehicle seen in the video was a Ladoga.
The AFV Recognition account holder, who spoke anonymously saying he served in the military, told BI it was “extremely surprising” to see the vehicle on the ground, noting he had only seen no photographs or any trace of his departure. storage facilities, which may suggest it was moved “in some degree of secrecy”.
Russian Ladoga Instagram APV Recognition
VCB Ladoga
The Ladoga’s intended role as a transport vehicle for the Soviet political elite during a possible nuclear attack led to it being nicknamed the “Doomsday Tank”.
The vehicle combines the armored hull of a T-80 tank chassis with a 1,250 horsepower gas turbine engine.
Account holder AFV Recognition said the “rearward-facing exhaust” shown in the video confirmed the vehicle was “definitely a T-80 chassis vehicle.”
Only four or five Ladogas are believed to have been made, The Telegraph reported.
The vehicle was first tested in the field after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in April 1986, when it conducted “chemical reconnaissance” of the area, according to AFV Recognition.
The interior of Ladoga. Instagram APV Recognition
Photos of Ladoga’s interior show comfortable chairs, tables and monitors.
It also had a ventilation system and storage for food and water that could last up to 48 hours for the crew, according to AFV reconnaissance.
Russia has lost a huge amount of tanks and armored vehicles since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In February, Bastian Giegerich, director general of the International Institute for Strategic Studies think tank, said Russia had likely lost more than 3,000 tanks since the invasion began.
“To put this in perspective, Russian tank losses on the battlefield are higher than they were when its offensive launched in 2022,” Giegerich said.
Russia has been forced to turn to older Soviet models – as well as surprising alternatives such as Chinese golf carts – to make up for its losses.
But Russia maintains a significant advantage over Ukraine in terms of the supply of munitions and equipment, according to the UK. Department of Defense (MoD) said in an update on the conflict last week.
The Defense Ministry said Russia was likely recruiting 30,000 additional troops per month, adding that it was “very likely” that it could continue its attacks on Ukraine and absorb losses.
businessinsider
