Ukraine has begun to regularly use tanks to combat Russian "meat assaults"
Recently, the Ukrainian army has been increasingly using main battle tanks to fight Russian infantry. This is confirmed by videos appearing on social media showing the direct use of tanks to attack enemy positions.
Here's What We Know
In the past, tanks and heavy weapons such as the AMX-10RC were usually used for indirect fire, acting as artillery or assault guns. However, tanks are now increasingly involved in direct combat with Russian infantry.
A video released by the 12th Azov Special Forces Brigade shows a tank, likely a T-64BV mod. 2022, to destroy buildings and eliminate the enemy with its main weapon, a 125mm smoothbore gun. It is noted that during this battle several units of Russian armoured vehicles were destroyed, including BMP-2 and MT-LB armoured personnel carriers.
A repelled mechanised assault: the 12th Azov Brigade's drones and tank annihilate the occupiers
- Azov Brigade (@azov_media) 9 January 2025
A Russian assault group attacked the Ukrainian Defence Forces' positions in the Toretsk sector, deploying several armoured vehicles, including an IFV and an MT-LB.
Strike drone... pic.twitter.com/vEmyRyAqVk
Another video shows the actions of tankers of the 63rd Mechanised Brigade in the Serebryansky Forest. A T-72EA tank is firing its cannon at Russian infantry at a distance of about 100 metres. The distance between the tank and the attacked soldiers is supposed to be up to 100 metres, close enough for the Russians to respond with anti-tank grenade launchers. The crew can also be seen using a machine gun to support the fight.
Tank crews of the 63rd Brigade are attacking enemy positions in the Serebrianske Forest.
- WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated) 9 January 2025
Fire is being directed at the Russians from a distance of up to 100 metres. pic.twitter.com/lQH7d6ZDwU
Other recordings related to the actions of the tankers of the 17th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade record the battles in the Kursk region. T-64BV tanks are firing both at open positions and at enemy fortifications, again using mainly main weapons.
???????? Ukrainian tank crews from the 17th Heavy Mechanised Brigade are attacking Russian infantry in the Kursk region. pic.twitter.com/vdBbIwMoGk
- NOELREPORTS ???????? ???????? (@NOELreports) 8 January 2025
Interestingly, this use of tanks is often carried out without infantry or armoured personnel carrier support, which underscores the risk and bravery of Ukrainian tankers. Whether these operations are the result of a careful analysis of the enemy's tactical capabilities or rather a display of bravery remains to be seen.
However, it is clear that massive attacks by Russian infantry, called "meat" attacks, force the use of all available means to deter them, including tanks.
Source: Defence24
