As the Ukrainian offensive unfolds in the Russian Kursk region, the involvement of Polish-manufactured tanks has come to light, with significant impacts on Russian defenses.
The 22nd Ukrainian Mechanized Brigade has been at the forefront of the attack, utilizing PT-91 Twardy tanks, which have a history of being manufactured in Poland.
Retired General Waldemar Skrzypczak, former commander of the Polish Land Forces, noted the sufficiency of the equipment for the operation, reflecting confidence in the effectiveness of these tanks on this front. It was only after a week into the offensive that Ukraine eased its information blackout, allowing the emergence of photos and videos from the early days of the operation, revealing PT-91 tanks leading the charge. These tanks, long familiar within Poland, have contributed to considerable Russian casualties, drawing attention not just in Poland but also in Russia, where their presence has been exploited by Russian propaganda to allege the involvement of Polish mercenaries.
Military officials have described the PT-91 Twardy as an excellent machine for combat and expressed their lack of surprise that these tanks are part of the 22nd Brigade’s arsenal. General Skrzypczak emphasized the brigade’s preference for homogeneous equipment to streamline training, command, and logistics.
The ongoing use of these tanks by the brigade, which received them back in 2023 and has since experienced heavy combat, including during last year’s unsuccessful Zaporizhzhia offensive, underscores their sustained operational readiness. Despite previous losses, these Polish machines have been maintained, repaired, and kept combat-ready with the assistance of Polish industry.
“They continuously maintain, repair, and fix them because they don’t have many options and strive to keep these tanks always combat-ready, and they do this with the help of the Polish industry,” explains General Skrzypczak.
The PT-91 Twardy, a significant upgrade over the Soviet-era T-72, features enhancements like the Polish Drawa fire control system, maintaining its reputation on the Ukrainian front despite newer tanks like the Leopards and Abrams entering service. General Skrzypczak acknowledges that while it may no longer be top of its class, the PT-91 remains a valuable asset in current operations, where it performs reliably at a higher level of technical readiness. This efficiency is crucial as these raiding units need to ensure their return from operations.
The Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk region shows no signs of abating, with fresh reports on Monday morning indicating the potential expansion of attacks to the Belgorod region of Russia as well.
