Russia's new Shturm uncrewed assault tank failed during its debut at the Tsentr-2026 military exercise, losing its command link and getting stuck in the mud during a demonstration before President Vladimir Putin, according to Defense Blog.
The Shturm, built by Russian machine-building company Uralvagonzavod, repeatedly lost its command-and-control radio link with its separate command vehicle during the exercise, held from September 28 to October 3, 2026. Organizers were forced to abandon remote operations and switch to a human driver-mechanic, but the vehicle still became stuck in a muddy ditch beside a dirt track.
The heavy robotic assault tank is based on modified Soviet-era T-72 and T-90 tank chassis and can be fitted with a shortened 125mm main gun, or twin 30mm cannons and thermobaric rocket launchers. Its defining feature is a control system allowing remote operation from a crewed command vehicle within roughly 3 kilometers, though it also has room for an on-board human driver.
The Russian Defense Ministry initially said on October 2 that Putin had been shown the new uncrewed combat vehicles during the drills, according to Defense Blog. Reports of the failure emerged afterward.
A Russian armor expert cited by Defense Blog said the vehicle had several technical flaws, including an engine compartment and turret roof that are almost unprotected, areas drones most often target when attacking armored vehicles in Ukraine.
'The idea of this vehicle seems unsuccessful to me: dependence on a command post that has to be 3 to 4 kilometers away and in direct line of sight. Without proper communications like Starlink, or something similar, there is no point in such a vehicle,' the expert said.
Starlink, operated by SpaceX, has previously blocked Russian drones from using its services during the four-year war in Ukraine.