Wednesday 11 May 2022 12:47 AM Ukraine war: New footage shows Russia's latest-gen T-90M tank being destroyed trends now
New footage has emerged showing Russia's most expensive and up-to-date tank getting destroyed by Ukrainian forces during fighting in Donbas.
Drone footage, issued by Ukraine's Ministry of Defence today, shows the T-90M - a £4million latest-generation war machine - exploding after being hit during the battle for Stary Saltiv, to the north of Kharkiv, last week.
More footage then shows what appears to be the burned-out husk of the same tank, with a large hole through the tracks on its right side and evidence of an explosion at the rear with its armour plating bent outwards.
The Ukrainian MoD claimed the tank was taken out by a Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle - a Swedish-made rocket launcher that costs around £18,500, including the rocket.
'The pride of the Russian tank industry was destroyed by the Swedish hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher Carl Gustaf,' the ministry said in a tweet.
Footage released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence shows the moment a Russian T-90M tank - a £4million latest-generation war machine - was blown up near Kharkiv
Ukraine claims its territorial defence troops destroyed the tank using a Swedish-made Carl Gustaf rocket launcher that costs just £18,000
'We thank the Swedish people and the King for their help.'
Footage of the wreck suggests the rocket evaded the T-90's advanced armour and defence systems by smashing through the wheels.
It then exploded inside the engine compartment, appearing to detonate ammunition along the way which produced a large blast.
The video emerged as Ukrainian forces push out from Kharkiv in a sweeping counter-attack towards the Russian border.
Having recaptured Stary Saltiv from Putin's troops on May 3, Ukraine's forces have now pushed six miles further up the road to Rubizhne in a move that puts them less than 10 miles from the Ukraine border.
It is unclear exactly when the T-90M tank was destroyed, though Russia launched a failed counter-attack on May 5 which is around the same time footage first emerged.
The T-90M is an upgraded version of Russia's most-common battle tank - the T-72, which has led the fighting in Ukraine - and is equipped with technology which is supposed to make it more difficult to destroy.
Shtora - or 'curtain' - is an electrical jammer fitted to T-90 tanks that deploys smoke grenades when the tank is being targeted by a missile to make it harder to hit, and infrared lights designed to 'dazzle' the guidance system and throw it off target.
T-90s are also fitted with reactive armour tiles that are similar to Russia's other tanks and are designed to explode when struck - throwing incoming projectiles off target.
It also features composite armour that is supposed to be tougher than its predecessors and an improved engine that gives it better manoeuvrability.
