Ukrainian and Russian Tanks Face Off Near Siversk

A tank crew of the 54th Mechanized Brigade destroyed an enemy “barn” tank in close combat while repelling a Russian assault near Siversk.

The blogger Hunter of the Stars published the footage of the tank battle.

The tank of the 54th Mechanized Brigade moved to intercept the Russian combat vehicle, which was outfitted with a massive anti-drone superstructure, and disabled it with a cannon shot from a distance of less than one hundred meters.

Based on the explosion, the Ukrainian crew likely fired a shaped-charge (HEAT) round that tore off part of the tank’s large superstructure but failed to inflict critical damage. The Russian vehicle remained operational and began reversing to retreat.

The rare tank duel ends as the footage cuts out. According to the video’s author, the enemy vehicle was ultimately destroyed by strike drones during its attempted withdrawal.

The battle took place about two kilometers from Siversk, where the units of Ukraine’s 54th and 53rd Mechanized Brigades, along with the 4th Rapid Reaction Brigade ‘Rubizh’ of the National Guard of Ukraine, are holding the line.

The exact geolocation of the enemy vehicle’s destruction was identified [here] by OSINT researcher Moklasen.

The footage of the tank duel is most likely part of previously unpublished videos related to the fighting on July 25, during which soldiers from the 54th and 81st Brigades crushed a major Russian mechanized assault. That assault group also included tanks outfitted with similar massive anti-drone superstructures.

The July 25 Battle on the outskirts of Siversk

According to Militarnyi, the Russian assault in the Siversk sector was supported by six tanks, six MT-LB tracked vehicles, three armored personnel carriers, and one armored recovery vehicle.

In addition, the enemy employed twelve trucks, two all-terrain vehicles, and forty-one motorcycles.

Nearly all the equipment used in the assault was either destroyed or abandoned on the battlefield. Only one BREM, one MT-LB, and one vehicle remained intact.

Based on the released footage, the enemy column was primarily taken out by drones, artillery fire, and well-prepared minefields laid in advance along key routes.