Thailand has reportedly used its Ukrainian-made T-84 Oplot main battle tanks in combat for the first time.
Local media and defense observers in Thailand say the Royal Thai Army employed the tanks during an assault on Cambodian military positions in the area near the Thai-Cambodian border.
Sompong Nondhasa, a prominent Thai defense commentator, posted online: “Oplot cavalry—the knights of the battlefield—have now entered the fight. This afternoon, the Royal Thai Army deployed Oplot tanks to fire on Cambodian forces near the base of Phra Wihan…”
Multiple pro-government outlets in Bangkok confirmed deployment of Oplot-M tanks and described this as a show of force intended to “reclaim lost ground.”
The T-84 Oplot is a heavily upgraded derivative of the Soviet-era T-80, developed and manufactured in Ukraine. Thailand ordered 49 units in 2011 under a contract with Kharkiv Morozov Machine Building Design Bureau.
This marks the first time the Oplot tanks have been seen in active combat, according to Thai media reports. The tanks are equipped with advanced fire control systems, composite armor, and a 125mm smoothbore gun. Thai defense officials have previously described the Oplot as the most advanced tank in the Royal Thai Army’s inventory.
While several Thai outlets and defense commentators have suggested the T-84 Oplot tanks were used in live combat for the first time, there is currently no independently confirmed information. Social media is flooded with speculation and provocative claims, making it difficult to verify or refute reports of their deployment in direct action. However, it is confirmed that a number of Oplot tanks have been moved toward the border area amid the ongoing conflict.