2023-06-19 15:35:00
Russia claims to have remotely detonated a tank loaded with explosives, in an apparent new tactic
The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that a Ukrainian stronghold was destroyed by a remote-controlled tank loaded with a huge amount of explosives, in what appears to be a new battlefield tactic.
In a message posted on its Telegram channel over the weekend, the ministry stated that “regarding 3.5 tons of TNT and 5 FAB-100 bombs” had been introduced into the tank. FAB-100 bombs typically carry a payload of 100 kilos.
In a video shared by the ministry on Saturday, a Russian tank commander, callsign “Bernaul,” said he was tasked with preparing the tank and executing the attack.
“About 300 meters from the enemy, the tank operator put the vehicle on manual throttle, directing it [hacia el enemigo]. He jumped up and headed for the rear. I stayed behind to observe, and following the vehicle approached the enemy positions, I detonated it by radio control,” the commander said.
“The explosion was very serious, there were a lot of explosives (…) as a result, according to the radio interception data, the enemy suffered significant losses,” he added.
Drone video shows the tank standing still following apparently colliding with a mine near Ukrainian lines. A large explosion follows, but the reason is unclear. A moment before the tank explodes, there appears to be a flash coming from the Ukrainian positions, which may have been an attempt to destroy the tank.
On Sunday, a prominent Russian war blogger “Voennyi Osvedomitel” shared a video from pro-Russian channel “Romanov” of drone footage showing the detonation of the tank. Osvedomitel said the tank hit a mine before reaching its target.
“They sent an unmanned kamikaze tank loaded with 6 tons of TNT to the Ukrainian positions in Mariinka. Unfortunately, it didn’t make it, it was blown up by a mine,” he wrote.
It is not possible to geolocate the incident, but the Mariinka area in Donetsk has been the scene of heavy fighting since the Russian invasion began.
CNN contacted Ukrainian authorities regarding the incident.
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