The Russian T-90S tank, primarily for export purposes, became the prize of the Ukrainian army. A video with a Russian tank was posted on the project page Ukraine Weapon Tracking. According to OSINT researchers, this is the first documented case of T-90S being captured during a full-scale Russian invasion.

This tank has a number of configuration differences compared to the basic version of the T-90. One of the main visual differences is the absence of infrared “Curtain” searchlights on the front of the turret of the exported T-90S, unlike the T-90A in service with the Russian army. Instead of them, additional dynamic protection containers are installed there. The controllability of the export tank was improved by the introduction of automatic gear shifting and a steering wheel drive.

In October last year, Militarny reported the documented fact that T-90S tanks were included in the formation of units of the Russian occupation forces participating in the war against Ukraine. Military observers at the time assumed that Russia was mobilizing tanks that could be exported to Algeria, Turkmenistan or Vietnam.

Russia has already begun to lose T-90S tanks during hostilities in Ukraine. Photo confirmation of the first tank of this type destroyed appeared in early 2023. The entry into service of export T-90S tanks could mean that the Russian army suffered heavy losses in armored vehicles, especially main battle tanks. It may also indicate that the occupiers are having trouble repairing and restoring their damaged combat vehicles. Source