Burning reception: how Russian tankers stopped the Leopard
The crew under the command of a sergeant with the call sign Flash, who distinguished himself during the liberation of Maryinka in the DPR, destroyed a German Leopard and two enemy infantry fighting vehicles in one battle. Even after hitting the engine compartment and a fire broke out, the tankers did not leave the car and continued to fire, managing to disable the enemy's armored vehicles. For the courage shown in the Kurakhovsky area, the commander was presented with the Order of Courage and two medals "For Bravery". How a tankman who was presented with awards three times survived in a car engulfed in flames, won a duel with the Leopard, and why his best friend became the crew's gunner — in the Izvestia article.
Fortress on roads and water barriers
In December 2023, the assault detachments of the Yuzhnaya group of forces completed the liberation of Maryinka. On December 10, soldiers of the 103rd Motorized Rifle Regiment raised the Russian flag at the western exit of the destroyed city, but this point did not complete the operation. There were two weeks of fierce battles ahead for every meter. Only by the 25th did the tricolor soar over the last house on the northern outskirts. One of the enemy's most powerful fortified areas has fallen.
The Ministry of Defense stressed at the time that this success had opened up new operational opportunities in the Donetsk area, and Vladimir Putin ordered awards for particularly distinguished military personnel. Among those whose name is forever inscribed in the history of this assault is a tank commander with the call sign Flash.
According to him, the enemy has turned the city into a powerful fortified area with a network of underground communications. Many buildings were adapted for defense and protected from artillery and air strikes.
— All the major settlements here are literally strung on the main roads. There is a strategic highway to Zaporizhia near the city itself, and another important route in the Vodiane area. Between them is an open area up to the Ostroye—Kurakhovo–Zhelannoe line," the tanker said.
Additional difficulties were created by the system of reservoirs to the north of the city. As a result, any movement between the front lines was clearly visible to the enemy.
The offensive along the Georgievsky Pond was hampered by deeply echeloned strongholds in the forest belts. Advancing through Georgievka under fire from equipped positions was extremely difficult, so it was decided to attack through the forest belt. One of the tasks of the Flash crew was to destroy the enemy's fortified area in this area.
"If necessary, then it is necessary"
The crew launched an assault and destroyed the first fortified point with direct fire. We immediately went on a second run, smashed two more resistance nodes. When we returned to the re-equipment, the Flash was "covered". Concussion is an unpleasant thing: the ground is falling out from under your feet.
At that moment, the company commander got in touch on the radio: it was necessary to go into battle again, to crush the firing points that had come to life. The medic, having examined the commander, categorically forbade departure.
— The company officer asked directly: "Can you do it?". I replied: "If it's necessary, then it's necessary." And we went forward again," he smiles.
The third time, I had to move even further. At the boundary line, the combat vehicle began to be fired from two sides. While maneuvering, the tank hit a mine. The explosion tore off the caterpillar, but the sturdy armor saved the people. After leaving the damaged equipment, the crew took up positions in the infantry trenches and continued the shooting battle. The task was completed: the enemy's positions were eliminated, and the fighters emerged from the altercation without losses. For this feat, the commander was awarded the Order of Courage.
The duel at Kurakhovo
The liberation of Maryinka opened a direct road to Kurakhovo, a key supply hub for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It was about 15 km away, but the way was blocked by several fortified villages.
In one of the following battles, the crew was assigned to occupy the line to the left of the city. We've reached a line-of-sight distance. With two accurate shots, the tankers managed to destroy two enemy armored personnel carriers, when suddenly a shell flew at them. It was a German Leopard tank. The impact hit the port side: dynamic protection was activated, but the cumulative jet pierced the engine compartment.
The engine instantly burst into flames. Despite the fire behind his back, the crew continued the battle, completely shot the ammunition and jammed the enemy tank with return fire. Only after that, they managed to get to the rear in a burning car.
— How did you survive? Flash smiles. — My driver is a real ace, a former professional biathlete. He squeezed the impossible out of the damaged engine and got us out alive.
For this duel, the crew received medals for Bravery.
One against three
I didn't have to rest for long. The very next day, the military received a new car and went back to the front line to bypass Kurakhovo from the other flank. And there they were ambushed: three Ukrainian tanks rolled out at once against one of our tanks.
The gunner noticed two targets in time. The first tank was immobilized by an accurate hit into the truck, and then destroyed. The second one tried to escape, realizing that the initiative was lost, but was also eliminated.
— I just started to report to the command about the success, as the third one rolls out of the forest belt, — said the sergeant. — Apparently, he went to help, but he was too late. He didn't notice us because of the commotion. My gunner worked instantly — we sent him to the first two.
After that, the commander's piggy bank was replenished with a second medal "For Courage".
From peaceful life to the front line
Flash is a career soldier, he went to the front voluntarily from the very first days. When his childhood best friend, with whom they grew up in the same yard, found out about this, he signed a contract without hesitation and followed.
They have been fighting in the same crew for more than two years now. Flash is the commander, his friend is the gunner operator. One tells you where to go, the other hits the targets with jewelry.
"Why did he follow me?" We were just brought up right, based on good books and movies," says the sergeant. — When we were kids, we knew the Soviet classics about tankers by heart. From modern T-34 models, it perfectly shows how one crew can outmaneuver an entire column. We love our land and will defend it to the end.
Today, the Flash's crew continues to carry out tasks on the front line.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
