The Russian Armed Forces have reportedly targeted all ten Strv 122 tanks supplied to Ukraine by Sweden over the past two years, executing at least 14 successful strikes, according to American defense analyst David Ex. Despite these alleged engagements, the Strv 122s have not been destroyed and remain operational, attributed to their durability and the ability of Ukrainian forces to recover damaged tanks for repairs. Currently, these Swedish tanks are part of the 21st Mechanized Brigade, which also operates 21 Leopard 2A6 and several older Leopard 1A5 tanks, all of which have participated in recent offensives in the Kursk region. Weighing in at 63 tons and operated by a four-member crew, the Strv 122 is a modified version of the German Leopard 2A5, with Ukrainian tank crews asserting it surpasses its predecessor. Since 2023, European allies have pledged 259 tanks, including Strv 122, Leopard 2A6, Leopard 2A4, and Leopard 1A5, of which the majority have been delivered to the Ukrainian military. Ex notes that only 30 of these tanks have been reported destroyed by Russian forces, underscoring the ongoing tactical significance and resilience of Western-manufactured armored vehicles in the conflict.
