Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have captured at least 544 russia’s tanks: many of them are the T-72B3’s, which are currently in the hands of Ukraine’s military to help strike back the russian occupation army.
Serhii the tank gunner of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade tank battalion told about one of these vehicles in an interview with ArmyInform: the occupiers left their T-72B3 in one of the forest lanes: the commander ran away, the driver-mechanic was KIA, and the gunner was captured. The tank was quite new (manufactured in 2019) and almost fully loaded.
Read more: How Many Artillery Systems russia Has Lost For Almost a Year of the Full-Scale Invasion
Serhii and the mechanic-driver Artem were supposed to inspect the russian T-72B3 and, if possible, move it to the rear. The Kozak armored vehicle dropped off the fighters nearby the tank. There they discovered that the driver-mechanic could not get into the tank due to the jammed turret. Eventually, Serhii managed to solve the problem. After starting the engine on the third attempt, Ukraine’s fighters set off.
After some time, the fighters felt a strong explosion - the tank ran over an anti-tank mine that pierced the bottom of the armored vehicle: luckily, the ammunition did not detonate and there was no fire. However, the mine damaged the tracks, and the engine stopped. In the end, under enemy mortar shelling, the fighters continued to move, when were able to start the T-72B3 engine again.
However, later the Kozak armored vehicle was damaged and could not continue moving on its own, so it was towed away by a trophy tank. As Serhii notes, this trophy T-72B3 still helps them beat the invaders.
Defense Express reminds that russia began to produce the T-72B3 model 2022, which has a much simpler fire control system, including a night sight that is worse than the Sosna-U, but with reinforced armor.
Read more: Germany Handed Over to Ukraine Two More Gepard Anti-Aircraft Guns And Ammunition For Them
