Ukrainian brigade takes down three Russian tanks in rapid strike
Soldiers from the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh recently shared their triumph on Facebook, detailing how they destroyed three Russian tanks in just 15 minutes with one tank crew and three shots. They believe this feat exemplifies a legendary combat mission performance destined to be studied in military textbooks. We delve into the equipment that the Ukrainians may have used during this mission.
The Ukrainian service Militarny notes that the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh, battles around Avdiivka. It's likely in this vicinity that the mentioned engagement occurred. However, the Facebook post didn't specify which Russian tanks were targeted, nor did it reveal the Ukrainian tank deployed. A recording of the event is available below:
Ukrainians describe a "textbook" mission
The recording shared by the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, albeit of modest quality, leaves some details obscured. However, it's known that this brigade's arsenal includes tanks like the T-72M1 and T-64BW, as Military Land service has indicated. These Soviet-era machines have undergone significant upgrades by the Ukrainians to meet their specific needs.
The T-64, a primary tank for the Ukrainian ground forces, saw production from 1964 to 1987 and has been extensively modified since. The T-64BW, introduced into service in 2017, features upgrades such as a new thermal imaging sight (TPN-1-TPW), a digital navigation and communication system (Lybid-K 2RB), and enhanced tank protection. These modifications aim to improve firing range, target detection, and identification capabilities. Ukrainian T-64 tanks receive maintenance at the Bumar-Łabędy S.A. Mechanical Works, following an agreement with the Polish Armaments Group and the Ukrainian State Concern Ukroboronprom.
The T-72M1, essentially the export model of the Russian Army's T-72A, has been produced under license since 1984. Equipped with a multi-fuel W-46 engine (580 kW/780 hp), these tanks can reach up to 37 mi/h on paved roads and cover roughly 280 miles. Their primary weapon is a 125 mm smoothbore gun. In 2022, Poland supplied Ukraine with over 230 tanks in the T-72M1 and T-72M1R versions, the latter being a Polish enhancement of the T-72M1. Despite being considered less capable than most Russian tanks, particularly in terms of protection, experts assert they still significantly contribute to the battlefield.
