Chaotic Ukrainian drone footage of a column of Russian armor being destroyed near Klescheevka. A column of tanks and BMPs advances between defoliated trees and makes a sharp left turn and travels parallel to a trench. I am not entirely positive about what hits the lead tank, but my theory is a mine and the explosion appears to erupt from beneath the tank, and I see no indications of ATGMs or artillery fire. Fire from an enemy tank is another possibility. Billowing smoke obscures the lead vehicles and several more explosions can be seen through the miasma. The lead tank appears immobilized and the second tank pushes past it to take the lead. It is difficult to see through the smoke, but it almost appears that the first tank to be disabled fires its main gun past, or in the direction of, the second tank which overtook it. The third vehicle, one of the BMPs, is obscured by smoke but another explosion is seen through the smoke where that BMP should be located. The tank now in the lead explodes, and again, the source is difficult to see but is possibly a mine or fire from an enemy tank. The first tank to be hit again fires in the direction of the lead tank and appears to hit the ground in front of his stricken comrade. With up to four vehicles disabled, the vehicle at the rear of the column beats a retreat. The drone focuses on the fleeing Russian tank crewmen and dismounts, and just before the video cuts out, cluster munitions are seen falling on the stricken unit.

This unit suffered a solid beating. As I said, most of the explosions that affected Russian vehicles seemed to erupt from below, which makes me think they encountered a mine field covered by observation and artillery fires. There is also a chance that some of these vehicles were struck by direct fire weapons. The first tank to be struck certainly thought that something was out there taking shots at him, because he fired uncomfortably close to a friendly tank. Or perhaps the point man was taking revenge on his platoon commander for leading him into an ambush. It wouldn’t be the first time. It appeared that the unit attempted to bull headfirst through whatever was in front of them, and I did not get the impression that they reconnoitered the route or had the support of suppressing indirect fires.

UPDATE: Ron observed that the round appears to hit and pass through the foremost tank. This is a case of friendly fire, though the reason is unknown. Perhaps the gunner of the firing vehicle is concussed, confused, fired by accident, or maybe the commander of the forward tank owes him twenty rubles. This is one of those fog of war moments that may never be fully explained.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through sailing.