Russian military blunder: T‑72 tank crashes during unloading
On social media, a recording has surfaced showing Russians manoeuvring a truck with a trailer transporting a damaged T-72 tank. Although the soldiers' intentions are unclear, it appears likely that they differed from what is depicted in the video.
The war in Ukraine brings new recordings from the front lines each day, as well as from locations far from where the fighting is occurring. While most of these videos show varying degrees of effective attacks from both sides of the conflict, there is another dimension to the war that involves primarily mocking Russian soldiers online, especially among internet users.
It is impossible not to mention examples such as a video showing a Russian soldier fleeing from a drone, seeking refuge in an unlikely place—a toilet. Other examples include recordings displaying unusual Russian constructions, which are often the result of makeshift engineering and frequently utilise materials the army has readily available, such as fences and tin garages.
Russian tank on a trailer
Amongst the materials that have triggered a flurry of comments and shares is a video published by profiles such as @front_ukrainian on X. The film depicts a Russian trailer transporting a damaged T-72 tank, evidenced by its missing track. The vehicle reverses as if the driver intends to position it for unloading, but then it suddenly brakes. The unsecured tank swiftly gains momentum and slides off the trailer, which lacks proper ramps for descent. The "unloading" of the tank ends with it crashing into a tree, halting the several dozen-tonne armoured vehicle.
It is unclear what the Russians aimed to achieve with the actions shown in the film. Given the absence of tracks, one can assume the tank was damaged and not fit to be driven, necessitating transport for repairs. However, the setting in the video does not resemble a tank repair facility. This suggests the "unloading" might have been accidental, resulting from improperly securing the load.
T-72 tank
The T-72 tank featured in the video is one of the more common models in Russia. The history of this design dates back to the 1970s, and since then, the T-72 has undergone numerous upgrades. One of the standout versions is the T-72B3, which is notable for its modern Sosna-U sight and enhanced reactive armour. The T-72B3 model is equipped with a 2A46M cannon with a 125 mm calibre, supported by PKT machine guns with 7.62 mm and 12.7 mm calibres. These modifications have significantly improved its effectiveness on the battlefield.
