Russian tanks near NATO: de Bretton-Gordon questions troop readiness
The Sun's military analysis examines reported armor stockpiles and why drones have not made tanks obsolete.
The Sun
Story of Why this story? The video opened at a pace of 495,232 views a day, 10 times a normal first day on this channel (47,188).
Russia moves HUGE stash of new tanks to Nato border but if Putin invades his men will be massacred!
Things we can learn from the video
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- 0:28De Bretton-Gordon assesses Russia as operating on a war economy and accelerating armored production.
- 3:16He examines Russian equipment stockpiles near Finland, Norway and the Baltic states.
- 4:48He argues that offensive operations still need armor supported by drones and coordinated training.
- 9:05He questions whether Russian conscripts have the specialized skills needed to integrate armor and drones effectively.
- 14:12He urges NATO and European nations to maintain deterrence and monitor Russian military production.
A stockpile of tanks is not the same as an army ready to advance. That distinction runs through Hamish de Bretton-Gordon's assessment of Russian armor near NATO's borders, where he questions whether conscript forces have the training to turn equipment into an effective offensive force.
The former British Army tank commander appears in The Sun's analysis of satellite imagery that the outlet describes as showing a substantial Russian military buildup. He examines equipment positioned near Finland, Norway and the Baltic states, alongside Russia's production of modern T-90M tanks and refurbishment of older T-72s.
The video has drawn about 372,000 views in fourteen hours, an unusually fast start for the channel's regular videos. A separate Sun report about a drone attack on a military facility in Moscow Oblast is also drawing views far faster than usual.
De Bretton-Gordon's central argument is that drones have changed armored warfare without removing the need for armor. He describes drones as particularly effective in defense, but says taking and holding ground still requires tanks supported by drones. Making that combination work demands coordinated training, not simply more vehicles.
That is the substance behind the video's much harsher headline prediction about Russian losses in a hypothetical invasion. His assessment is conditional: forces attempting offensive operations without the necessary skills could suffer severely.
He closes by urging NATO and European countries to maintain deterrence, watch Russia's industrial capacity and adapt their own armored tactics to the lessons of Ukraine.
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- Channel
- The Sun
- Subscribers
- 6,550,000
- Channel views, last 7 days
- 9,791,087
- Channel views, pace per day
- 3,230,601 (on a normal day: 1,209,971)
- Video published
- October 22, 2026
- Video views so far
- 371,749 (less than a day online)
- Video views, pace per day
- 495,232
The numbers
The tank analysis and the separate drone-strike report are both drawing unusually fast audiences. Across The Sun's channel, daily views are more than double the usual pace.
💡 Test your knowledge
Which older tank model does de Bretton-Gordon discuss Russia refurbishing?
His analysis covers refurbished T-72s alongside production of the more modern T-90M.