Ukrainian Leopard-2A6 Crew Heroically Rescues Damaged T-72 Tank Under Fire

The crew of the Leopard-2A6 tank from the 21st Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces went on a combat mission in tandem with a T-72. After the battle, the latter was knocked out, and the group remained on a minefield under enemy fire, but did not abandon each other. The service members shared with a special correspondent the story of rescue and survival under the threat of an approaching bombardment.

In their accounts they emphasize that the main task is to evacuate from the battlefield the crews and the tank to their own defensive line. Such actions are recognized as an important component of rescue and coordinated work of different units during an active conflict.

Testimonies of the rescuers

“There was a task to enter enemy territory and strike the shelter there. We worked in tandem with a T-72. We carried out the strike, hit what needed to be hit, and when we were returning, the ‘T-72’ was ahead of us and it was hit; it was struck, it stopped somewhere near the minefield”

Zakhar said that he saw the damaged equipment and, after circling around, they wanted to pick up the guys, but they did not exit the vehicle, so they decided to evacuate the tank itself. When the tow rope was deployed, the loader surfaced, and immediately a heavy hit came in – all this happened right nearby.

“We see a damaged ‘T-72’ – it had a hit to the engine compartment. We circled carefully, wanted to take the guys, but they did not come out, so we decided to evacuate the tank itself. As soon as we threw out the tow cable – the loader surfaced, and immediately a strong hit landed, very close. We started worrying about our brothers-in-arms: he fell, debris flew right over him. Then other guys appeared, helped to attach. I look into the camera – when the hit happened, their mechanic fell, but got up, limping, and, fortunately, alive”

“When we tried to detach the tank, the crew of the ‘T-72’ began to come out, and suddenly I see – an FPV drone flying in from the side. I think: everything, there is nowhere to run. But it began to tip over and fell to the ground. Phew… With relief I shouted to the guys: ‘Come into our vehicle!’ All three jumped – the four of us managed to fit into my seat”

“When we were pulling, I was still telling where to pull the tank, so I had an engine overheating, i.e., a critical temperature of 120. My gauge pegged beyond 120. On the Leopard’s instruments, it was a disaster. And we even caught fire; when we stopped, the guys were extinguishing the fire, I was extinguishing the engine compartment”

“I am the gunner, I sit low and I can’t see much, and when we approach the checkpoint, about 500 meters away we are driving with the gun backward. So that the commander could see everything better. And when we approach the checkpoint, we quickly turn around, bang, bang, bang, we rolled back a bit, turned around and I still can’t see anything. It was summer, filters clogged, plus the heat, it overheated, and almost 40 tons were being towed from behind”

For the feat of rescuing the T-72, all members of the Leopard-2A6 crew were awarded the Order of Courage, III Class. The crew of one of the fighting vehicles was awarded state honors for demonstrated bravery and professionalism during the battle and the rescue of their comrades.