Russia's most advanced tank in service was destroyed by Ukraine just days after it was placed, according to reports

Russian tank T-90M standing in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, April 28, 2021. Image Credit

Following reports that one of Russia's most advanced tanks the T-90M was destroyed just days after being deployed to Ukraine, Russia suffered yet another military setback this week.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko posted a photo of the charred vehicle from the Kharkiv region, which he claimed was recently liberated by Ukrainian forces.

Tsaplienko posted a photo of himself standing in front of the wrecked tank, joking with his followers that the vehicle is "hot, it's smokin' hot."

I mean, who could guess that the first Russian T-90M would be hunted down within days after their much-advertised deployment to Ukraine’s Kharkiv Oblast.

Say hi to our big friend Andriy Tsapliyenko. pic.twitter.com/1GaFuHcgR8

— Illia Ponomarenko 🇺🇦 (@IAPonomarenko) May 4, 2022

According to the journalist, Russian troops attempted to reclaim the territory on Wednesday but were unsuccessful. Tsaplienko reported that scraps from Russia's destroyed tank will be displayed in a parade commemorating the end of World War II on May 9.

In a Thursday statement, Ukraine's Ministry of Defense confirmed the T-90's demise, saying the battle vehicle dubbed the "Breakthrough" had arrived in Ukraine just one week before its demise.

"As a result, the image of the Russian army, which many around the world feared, has degraded and fallen in the last two months to such an extent that few could have imagined," the statement said.

The presence of the machine in eastern Ukraine was first reported on April 25, according to Newsweek.

According to the Defense Ministry, the tank was hit by Ukrainian forces near Izyum with an American Javelin anti-tank missile system. According to the agency, the attack also resulted in the destruction of an MT-LB armored personnel carrier and an infantry fighting vehicle.

According to the Defense Ministry, the missile system "converted a super-modern Russian tank into a pile of scrap metal."

According to The Drive, Russia's frontline arsenal's most technologically advanced battle vehicle is the T-90M tank, which was first issued to Russian military divisions in the spring of 2020. Only about 100 models are currently operational, according to the outlet.

The T-14 Armeta is a newer version of Russia's T-90M that is still being produced.

The T-90M has a powerful engine, panoramic sight with the rangefinder, thermal internal imaging channel, and fire control system, according to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry. According to the ministry, the new design includes multi-layered armor and ammunition that are stored outside the unit. The tank's multi-channel sight enables it to fire at any time of day.

"All of these upgrades do not appear to have helped the T-90M, which is already being regarded as Ukraine's first confirmed loss of this type of tank," the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Black Sea flagship "Moskva" sank after being hit by a Ukrainian missile last month, causing yet another embarrassment.

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