Moment Ukrainian drone captures the destruction of Russia's most advanced main battle tank
- A video released by the Ukrainian military showed the destruction of some tanks
- One of the destroyed tanks is believed to be a highly advanced Russian T-90M
- As well as the tanks, the footage showed a thermobaric rocket system explode
- It is claimed that this is the first Russian T-90M to be destroyed in Ukraine
By DARREN BOYLE FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 09:25 AEST, 5 May 2022 | UPDATED: 09:54 AEST, 5 May 2022
This is the moment Ukrainian troops destroy one of Russia's most advanced tanks which are protected by special reactive armour.
The armour on the T-90M is designed to explode when hit reducing the penetrative power of an incoming round.
The tank is also protected with a automated defence system which fires smoke grenades when it is 'painted' by a laser beam used by an incoming missile.
Ukrainian forces are believed to have destroyed one of Russia's most advanced Main Battle Tanks in the north east of the country. The T-90M is thought to have additional protection against modern weapon systems
A Ukrainian drone monitored a Russian tank as a missile attack was incoming
The Russians were unaware they were only moments from destruction
The drone showed several armoured vehicles blow up in quick succession
The Ukrainian military said the attacks took place in the north-eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv Oblast.
Intelligence officers identified clusters of Russian equipment and coordinated with ground troops to mount a series of attacks, reportedly destroying two tanks and two MTLB (Russian transport vehicles).
The Command of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) said Monday: 'The Resistance Movement of the SSO of Ukraine is working.
'In the Kharkiv region, during reconnaissance operations, our soldiers discovered clusters of enemy equipment, including heavy armoured and lightly armoured vehicles.'
They added: 'An hour after the priority targets for the strike were determined, soldiers of the Resistance Movement coordinated a unit of one of the artillery brigades and adjusted the fire on enemy targets.
One of the tanks is believed to be a highly advanced Russian T-90M
'As a result of joint work of soldiers of the Defence Forces of Ukraine, the losses of the Russians amounted to: T-90 tank - destroyed. T-80BVM tank - destroyed. MTLB - destroyed. MTLB - damaged.'
Ukraine believes Russia has so far lost 23,800 troops in the ten weeks since their invasion.
The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,048 battle tanks, 2,519 combat armoured vehicles, 459 artillery systems, 152 MLR systems, 80 anti-aircraft systems, 194 warplanes, 155 helicopters, 1,824 vehicles, 8 vessels, 76 fuel tank trucks, 271 operational-tactical level UAVs, 38 units of special equipment, and four mobile SRBM systems.