Tank crews serving with the Russian Armed Forces’ «East» group managed to break through Ukrainian defenses near the settlement of Sladkoe in the Zaporozhye Region by applying a new combat tactic. Details of the operation were disclosed by Russia’s Ministry of Defense.

The ministry highlighted the tightly coordinated work of tank crews operating in pairs, as well as their constant interaction with unmanned aerial vehicles. According to the briefing, this combination proved decisive in overcoming enemy positions.

The core of the tactic lies in a clear division of roles between two armored vehicles. One tank operates from a more distant position, suppressing identified targets with fire and drawing the enemy’s attention. At the same time, the second crew executes a rapid forward dash, delivering a precise strike using direct fire. After the attack, both tanks swiftly change positions, denying Ukrainian forces the chance to line up an accurate counterstrike.

Close coordination with drone operators is described as a key element of the approach. UAVs provided real-time fire correction, identified new targets, and warned tank crews of emerging threats. This enabled armored units to act quickly, accurately, and without unnecessary delays.

According to the Defense Ministry, the scheme leaves no room for wasted movement: the opponent has no time to take aim and cannot anticipate where the next blow will come from.

Earlier, the newspaper Izvestia, citing a source within the defense establishment, reported that this form of tank combat has been dubbed the «fire surge»/ Under this model, one vehicle delivers covering fire from a concealed position, while the second moves at high speed into the neutral zone to engage targets with direct fire. The firing is carried out on the move, and after several shots the tank pulls back to strike again from a different direction, significantly complicating the work of Ukrainian gunners.

Military expert Aleksey Leonkov has noted that the «fire surge» is not expected to fully replace the previously used «tank carousel» tactic, in which vehicles take turns moving into position and engaging targets with direct fire, rotating one after another.