The Russian invasion forces started using Т-62М main combat tanks in the Luhansk Region.

Russia’s Т-62 tanks were spotted near Vrubivka, Popasna district of the Luhansk Region.

The tanks were likely supplied to the so-called “LPR army corps” consisting of mercenaries from Russia and the occupied part of Ukraine.

The Т-62 tank with a 115-mm gun was adopted by the Soviet army under the Т-62А “Object 165” designation in 1962. The upgraded version of the Т-62 tank with the 9K116-2 Sheksna system (ATGM – ed.) was designated Т-62М.

The retrofitted Т-62М tank received enhanced bottom, hull, and turret protection, additional spaced armor in front of the turret, a new fire control system.

In modern combat, Т-62М’s protection is considered unreliable, so Russian tank crews try to strengthen each tank with additional protection.

The footage from the Luhansk Region shows a convoy of four Т-62М tanks with improvised protection.

The first Т-62М named “Aurora” received DIY-style on-board screens with Kontact-1 reactive armor blocks.

The second Т-62М named “Fartovy” (rus. lucky – ed.) got DIY 902B smoke grenade launchers instead of turret protective screens.

The third Т-62М named “Nadezhda” (rus. hope – ed.) retained its protection and additionally received a handmade turret add-on, as well as several Kontact-5 reactive armor blocks on its rear side.

Only the fourth Т-62М named “Voin” (rus. warrior – ed.) is somewhat close to the original version of the tank, except for the rusty tracks welded to the hull.

Recently, the Department of Defense of the United States of America reported that the Russian Armed Forces lost 20-30% of its armored forces in battles with the Ukrainian military.