"Putin Is Getting Desperate."
- 13.01.2026, 10:32
- 5,456
Ex-British army officer mocked Russian "dandelion tank".
The Russian Defense Ministry has demonstrated a new modification of a tank with additional metal protection, unofficially dubbed the "dandelion tank." The vehicle is positioned as an attempt to increase the survivability of armored vehicles in conditions of mass use of Ukrainian drones.
A former British army officer and military analyst Gamish de Bretton-Gordon writes in a column for The Telegraph, the appearance of such a design is due to the large-scale losses of Russian tanks in the war against Ukraine, which, according to open sources, exceeded 6,000 units.
"Russia's absurd 'dandelion tank' shows how desperate Putin is becoming," the author notes.
Impromptu defense instead of technology
"The dandelion tank was another variant of improvised defense after the so-called 'turtle' and 'Yezhov' tanks - vehicles clad in metal sheets, grills and spikes. All these solutions are aimed at reducing the effectiveness of FPV drones and munitions strikes from the upper hemisphere.
At the same time, the expert claims, such designs:
difficultize aiming from the main gun;
significantly increase the dimensions of the tank, making it more visible;
reduce the mobility and maneuverability of the vehicle;
may facilitate the detection and defeat of armored vehicles.
In contrast to Russia, NATO countries rely on electronic warfare and active defense systems capable of intercepting drones and missiles while still in the air. Such systems are already used, in particular, by Israel, and are planned to be installed on prospective Western tanks.
Modern armored vehicles must combine firepower, protection and mobility, while excessive attachment of metal structures undermines all three components.
"Mobility, the decisive factor in armored warfare, is paralyzed by the added weight, bulk, and potential for snagging: it will be nearly impossible for a dandelion tank to 'slip in' - the art of stealthily maneuvering through woods and wilderness to strike the enemy," the author notes.
The Russian army is increasingly using outdated equipment and tactics, while Ukraine, provided there are sufficient supplies of modern weapons, retains the potential to further deplete the enemy.
The appearance of the "Kulbaba tank," according to the expert, was not so much a breakthrough as evidence of Russia's adaptation to the shortage of equipment and losses at the front.
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