The crew of a Russian T-90M Proryv tank continued its combat mission after the vehicle sustained serious damage in an attack by a heavy Baba Yaga drone. Despite a fire on the outside of the tank, the crew fired another 10 rounds before driving the damaged vehicle away from the frontline under its own power.

Tank platoon commander Denis Dmitriev said the T-90M belonged to the 228th Guards Motor Rifle Regiment of the 90th Guards Tank Division of Russia’s Center Group of Forces. After the drone dropped a munition, the exterior of the vehicle caught fire, with the left side of the turret sustaining particularly severe damage. The interior of the tank, however, remained intact.

An inspection showed that the T-90M’s internal systems were still operational. The crew was supplied with 10 rounds, returned to the tank and fired all of them. After completing the firing mission, the tankers drove the damaged vehicle away from its position under its own power.

The T-90M was subsequently fully restored and returned to service. After repairs, it was deployed in the Dobropillia sector to clear a route for advancing assault units of the Center Group of Forces. The crew members were awarded the Orders of Courage for successfully completing the combat mission.

The episode demonstrated that an armored vehicle can remain combat-capable even after sustaining serious external damage if its internal components, armament and fire-control system remain operational. In this case, the crew first continued using the damaged T-90M as a combat platform before driving it out of the danger zone.

The T-90M Proryv is a heavily modernized version of the T-90 family. The tank features enhanced protection, a modern fire-control system and a range of systems designed to improve vehicle survivability and crew protection. Whether an individual tank can be restored depends on the nature of the damage and the condition of its internal components.