After serving the Russian army for decades, T-72 No. 583 was thrust back into the headlines in February 2022. It was operated by a crew belonging to the , a unit of the Russian Ground Forces stationed in Buryatia, Siberia. This brigade, equipped with its own contingent of modernized T-72 tanks, formed part of the armored spearhead that attempted to capture the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, in the war's opening weeks.
Weighing around 41.5 tonnes, the T-72 was compact and light compared to its Western contemporaries. Its low weight and narrow hull meant it could traverse bridges and roads that were impassable for heavier NATO tanks, a deliberate design choice for operations in Eastern Europe. The tank is powered by a V-46 series V-12 diesel engine, originally producing 780 horsepower (582 kW). While considered underpowered by Western standards, the T-72’s light weight and robust suspension gave it good cross-country performance. Later upgrades like the T-72B3 feature engines with up to 1,130 horsepower. t72 number 583