Putin's pride: T‑90m tank obliterated by Ukrainian missile in battle

The Russians regularly attempt to replace losses caused by destroyed military vehicles on the front lines. However, the Ukrainians effectively hinder this effort, as evidenced by the continuous documented destruction of the most valuable Russian vehicles. On many occasions, the heroes of these eliminations have been the T-90M Proryv tanks—machines that, according to Putin, were supposed to be the "best in the world."

The reality, however, proved brutal for the Russian arms industry. Putin's pride is vulnerable even to attacks carried out by such small weapons as kamikaze drones. It is worth mentioning that in the case of a strike by significantly more powerful missiles, the T-90M remains essentially defenseless.

Exactly such a scenario took place in Zaporizhzhia, where a Russian tank was hit by precise Bonus artillery ammunition. The outcome of this encounter could not have been different. Its effect is presented in footage on, among others, the Ukrainian portal Militarny.

The T-90M Proryv is protected by Relikt reactive armor. Indeed, this guarantees safety against small missiles or amateur kamikaze drones. However, following a hit by 6-inch artillery ammunition, the T-90M Proryv’s defensive capabilities do not ensure the safety of the crew.

The offensive capabilities of this tank are provided by the 2A46M-5 smoothbore gun, measuring 4.9 inches in caliber, which is paired with the Kalina fire control system. The T-90M Proryv is powered by an engine that generates 1,360 horsepower and propels the vehicle to a speed of 40 mph.

The weapon used by the Ukrainians to strike the Russian tank was the Swedish 6-inch cluster missile, the 155 FFV Bonus. Its production is managed by the company FFV Bofors Ordnance.

The main characteristic of the Bonus ammunition is the presence of two self-guided submunitions in a larger shell. Once fired from artillery, the shell opens at an altitude of about 3,280 feet above the target. Subsequently, the two submunitions, each weighing 14 pounds, deploy stabilizers to ensure steady flight and then activate infrared sensors (at an altitude of 492 feet) before striking the target.

The range of the Swedish Bonus ammunition is rated at a maximum of 16 miles, allowing the Ukrainians to attack Russian units from a safe distance with minimal risk of detection based on the launch location in the immediate vicinity.