How dothemilitaries compare? Russia's invasion pits the Kremlin's large, recently modernised military against an adversary largely using older versions of the same or similar equipment, dating back to the Soviet era. Russia has significant numerical advantages on land and in particular in the air and at sea, although Ukrainians are defending their homeland.
Russia-key elements
Ukraine -key elements
280,000
145,000
Army personnel regularforces (plus estimated
Army personnel regular forces
34,000 separatist forces in Donetsk and Luhansk)
2,840
858
Battle tanks
Battle tanks
One icon = 100 assets
5,220 Fighting vehicles
1,184
Fighting vehicles
One icon = 100 assets
1,818
4,684 Artillery pieces One icon
Artillery pieces
100 assets
1,520+ Air defence surface-to-air batteries
75t Air defence surface-to-air batteries
One icon = 100 assets
150
90
Ballistic missiles
Ballistic missiles
One icon = 10 assets
Guardian graphic. Source: International Institute for Strategic Studies