Hero of Russia Major Andrey Mityashin shared details of a fierce tank duel that took place during a Russian advance on Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk direction.

He recalled that his crew moved through tall grass where visibility was nearly zero. Only later did they realize they were crossing a dense minefield. When a Ukrainian trench appeared about a hundred meters away, a mine detonated directly beneath the command tank. As they tried to reverse, a second explosion followed — the vehicle was immobilized, its tracks blown off.

Mityashin said Ukrainian forces immediately opened heavy fire from all available positions, targeting the stranded tank, which stood exposed on a rise. According to him, the Russian crew returned fire relentlessly, expending their entire ammunition load.

In the midst of the battle, another Russian tank arrived and shielded Mityashin’s vehicle with its own armor, allowing the crew to maneuver and withdraw safely. That same tank also covered the evacuation vehicle under fire.

Mityashin noted that the engagement ended without losses, but the experience became an important lesson in coordination and battlefield survival for everyone involved.