Ukraine's new armored assaults show the tank isn't dead, but the rules have changed

Ukraine's Third Army Corps said it carried out successful mechanized assaults behind Russian lines in its Operation Vivaldi. Yevhen Kotenko/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images Mechanized assaults have been rare in Ukraine, but amid a major offensive, its forces pulled off two. The Ukrainian commander behind the operation doubted the assaults would succeed. He said using armored vehicles now needs extensive planning and support, much like a special operation. A massive Ukrainian operation retaking territory from Russian forces has shown that assaults with tanks and armored vehicles are still possible in a drone-heavy war, but far more support and planning are now necessary to execute them. Tanks and other armored vehicles have faced serious challenges on battlefields dominated by drones, mines, and artillery, prompting both sides to move away, tactically speaking, from large-scale mechanized assaults.