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Vladimir Putin’s army has reportedly resorted to constructing “Frankenstein tanks.” They are using spare parts from damaged tanks to compensate for the significant loss of armored vehicles in Ukraine. 

The Russian military has been facing a devastating ammunition shortage, with troops allegedly fighting with shovels. 

At least one squadron of Russian troops was documented attacking a rival battalion using only “firearms and shovels” last month, as reported by the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense.

"The ‘shovels’ are likely entrenching tools being employed for hand-to-hand combat,” the UK report continued.

 "The lethality of the standard-issue MPL-50 entrenching tool is particularly mythologized in Russia.”

Frankenstein Tanks to the front

In addition to the use of shovels, some Russian soldiers are reportedly cobbling together parts of destroyed armored vehicles to create makeshift combat vehicles, while others are relying on dated Cold War-era T-62s instead of the new T-14 Armata tanks promised to them.

 Former British tank commander Hamish de Bretton-Gordon expressed concerns about the state of the Russian army, claiming that using makeshift war weapons is similar to terrorist organizations like al-Qaeda and ISIS.

Reports also indicate that the Russian army is pulling turrets from naval patrol boats to weld onto already damaged tanks and similar armored vehicles. 

The news of Russia’s “Frankenstein tanks” follows recent reports of soldiers forced to use shovels to fight in Ukraine. 

According to the UK Ministry of Defense, Russian reservists described being “neither physically nor psychologically” prepared for action, with an increase in close combat in Ukraine being reported.

The use of shovels and makeshift combat vehicles highlights the struggle that the Russian military is currently facing. 

The ammunition shortage and lack of preparedness have left soldiers with few options, forcing them to resort to unconventional methods.

While the construction of “Frankenstein tanks” may seem like a desperate move, it is not entirely surprising given the situation. It remains to be seen how effective these vehicles will be in a combat situation.