Ukrainian partisan movement Atesh has released photographs of dozens of abandoned Russian military vehicles on the outskirts of Sevastopol, Crimea.
The images show what Atesh says is Moscow’s Black Sea Fleet storage site, where old and damaged vehicles have been left outside without security.
Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is a major naval force based in Crimea, operating in the Black Sea, Mediterranean, and surrounding waters. It has played a central role in the war against Ukraine, including missile strikes, but has suffered heavy losses, such as the sinking of its flagship Moskva in 2022.
Atesh said the state of the vehicles points to Russia’s struggles with spare parts, repairs, and logistics, adding that the problems suggest reduced mobility and combat readiness.
⚓️ Металлолом вместо армии: техника РФ гниёт под Севастополем.
Наши агенты выявили стоянку ЧФ (44.56485, 33.52116). Машины ржавеют и брошены без охраны — нет запчастей, ремонт невозможен. Это показатель истощения и слабости врага. «АТЕШ» следит.#RussianUkrainianWar #Crimea pic.twitter.com/1qG6UkjvNy— АТЕШ (@AteshOrg) September 1, 2025
The Atesh Movement
Atesh, meaning “fire” in Crimean Tatar, was formed in 2022 by Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars, and some Russians. The group operates primarily in occupied Crimea and other Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine.
The network recently claimed responsibility for destroying a camouflaged Russian vehicle carrying electronic warfare equipment for drones in the southern Ukrainian region of Kherson.
Its other activities include sabotage of rail lines, attacks on Russian military assets, and intelligence gathering for Kyiv’s warfighters.
Atesh also claimed involvement in strikes on key targets, including Russia’s Saky Air Base in Crimea, and published evidence of operations carried out behind enemy lines.
Estimate of Vehicle Losses
Atesh’s update from Sevastopol came shortly after images surfaced online showing Russia had modified a captured Ukrainian M2 Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, replacing its original Bushmaster gun with a Soviet-era cannon.
Ukraine has lost more than 170 Bradleys since the start of the war, with several captured by Russian forces, according to reports last June. In total, Kyiv has lost over 5,000 military vehicles.
Separately, a UK Defence Intelligence assessment last year estimated that Moscow had already lost over 10,000 armored vehicles since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022. More recent reports place Russia’s total losses at over 16,000 military vehicles.
