In a surprising turn of events, a Ukrainian soldier recently reached out to Russian tech support for assistance with a captured Russian tank that refused to start. According to a reports what made this interaction even more intriguing was the fact that the support staff seemed completely unaware that they were speaking to a Ukrainian. With Ukraine actively capturing and repurposing Russia’s tanks for their own military operations, this incident sheds light on the unexpected encounters that can occur in the realm of international conflicts. Let’s delve into the details of this unusual situation and explore the implications it holds.
A Ukrainian officer, known as Kochevnik, sought help from Russian technical support after encountering difficulties with a captured Russian tank. The officer, featured in a video shared on YouTube by Ukrainian media outlet Militarnyi, appeared to be making prank calls to staff at Uralvagonzavod, the Russian tank manufacturer. Kochevnik was facing issues with the Russian T-72B3 tank, an advanced version of the Soviet-era T-72 tanks widely used by the Russian military. News agencies reported on the video, but the exact time and location of the tank’s capture, as well as the identity of the people Kochevnik contacted, could not be independently verified by Insider. In the video, Kochevnik initially contacted a person named Aleksander Anatolevich, whom he claimed was from Uralvagonzavod. Kochevnik expressed various complaints about the tank, including oil leakage and faulty compressors. The video translated Kochevnik’s statement, where he identified himself as the commander of an armored group facing difficulties operating the tank. Anatolevich seemed unaware that he was speaking to a Ukrainian soldier and assured Kochevnik that he would address his concerns by contacting the design bureau and engine manufacturer, according to reports. In the second half of the video, Kochevnik claimed to call Uralvagonzavod’s director, Andrey Abakumov. Abakumov advised Kochevnik to report the tank’s issues via WhatsApp, as reported by PRESS. Similar to Anatolevich, Abakumov appeared to be unaware of Kochevnik’s Ukrainian identity. Towards the end of the calls, Kochevnik revealed his true identity as the commander of Ukraine’s 54th mechanized brigade’s second mechanized battalion, offering suggestions to improve the tanks acquired as trophies. According to the Netherlands-based open-source intelligence website, Oryx, the Russian military has lost approximately two-thirds of its tanks since the invasion of Ukraine. Oryx’s data for 2022 indicates that Russia has lost at least 2,329 tanks out of an initial operational fleet of around 3,000.
In conclusion, it is evident that in addition to destroying Russian tanks, Ukraine has also repurposed them for their own use. Michael Kofman, a reputable expert in Russia Studies, has confirmed that Ukraine has successfully captured and utilized Russia’s T-80 tanks. These captured tanks have even been identified as separate units within the Ukrainian armed forces. While Insider reached out to Russia’s Ministry of Defense for comment, no immediate response was received. This development highlights the strategic advantage Ukraine has gained by repurposing the enemy’s own weaponry.
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