Russia intends to rebuild and expand its tank fleet over the next decade, according to leaked internal documents from the Uralvagonzavod manufacturer. The papers show that between 2026 and 2036 Moscow has ordered components for the production and refurbishment of more than 2,600 tanks.
Analysts say the scale of the program suggests preparation for a potential future conflict with NATO, with newer models expected to be deployed in the early stages of any such confrontation.
This comes just two weeks after President Vladimir Putin declared that Russia would end its Ukraine offensive only if Kyiv withdrew from territories Moscow claims as its own—warning that otherwise Russia would seize them by force.
Russia has lost more than 4,000 tanks in Ukraine—more than it had available at the start of the invasion—forcing the military to reactivate Soviet-era reserves. The leaked correspondence also indicates that 55% of ordered parts will be used for building new vehicles, contradicting earlier Western assessments that Russia could produce only 100–120 T-90M tanks per year. New estimates suggest capacity may reach around 240 annually.
The documents hint at the start of production of a new tank type from 2026, although details remain scarce. Notably absent is any reference to the T-14 Armata, once expected to replace older models but never observed on the battlefield.
Despite tanks playing a reduced role in Ukraine since 2023 due to the rise of drone warfare, Moscow still considers them crucial—particularly in the early phases of any confrontation with NATO.
