Observers were aghast. The T-55 was obsolete decades ago. In a direct clash with better-equipped Ukrainian forces, the life-expectancy of a T-55’s four crew might be … minutes? And Russian leaders know it. One Russian expert told Volya Media the tanks are “expendable.”

But wait! Doesn’t the Ukrainian army have T-55s, too? Aren’t the ex-Slovenian tanks also death-traps?

Not really. The T-55s that Ukraine got from Slovenia last fall are heavily-upgraded M-55S models. They have modern stabilized guns firing modern ammunition plus effective fire-controls and sights, as well as enhancements to their armor and engines.