Ukraine captures makeshift Russian tank, taking soldiers hostage
This is the first instance where Ukrainian soldiers managed to capture a Russian tank called the "chicken coop." Inside the vehicle were Russian soldiers who were taken as prisoners. These tanks are equipped with additional "protections" made from makeshift materials. Their effectiveness on the front is negligible...
The war in Ukraine has been ongoing for over two years. Recently, the Armed Forces of Ukraine captured an unusual Russian tank for the first time, which resembles a chicken coop more than a modern weapon.
The video shows Ukrainian soldiers entering the armoured vehicle and successfully controlling it. The Russian soldiers inside were taken hostage, and the machine was started and driven out of the brush.
Ukrainians proudly raised their country's blue and yellow flag on the tank, symbolizing their triumph, indomitability, and determination in defending their homeland against the Russian aggressor.
The chicken coop, an unusual Russian tank
The tank seen in the video is armoured with scrap. This construction can protect from FPV-type drones with simple single-charge grenades capable of penetrating steel armour, as their detonation would occur around eight centimetres from the tank's primary armour.
The cages, called "tortoise" or "chicken coop," aim to protect against shellfire. They are mounted on both old and newer Russian tanks.
The armoured scrap superstructure also provides makeshift protection for soldiers transported in the tank against artillery shrapnel. This Russian "armoured tortoise" is most likely intended to deliver troops to a specific region. It is worth noting that the additional armour limits horizontal turret movement, reducing the tank's combat effectiveness.
These vehicles are evidence of an attempt to increase crew and equipment protection under intense shelling conditions, though often at the expense of maneuverability and combat effectiveness. The Armed Forces of Ukraine's capture of such a tank is another small success in the fight against the Russian invader.
