How a Ukrainian tank destroyed a Russian column in a fierce battle

The war between Ukraine and Russia has been raging for more than a year, with no end in sight. The conflict has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions of people, and threatened the stability of Europe and the world. In this blog post, I will tell you the story of how a single Ukrainian tank took out an entire Russian armoured column in a failed enemy attack in the south of Ukraine.

The background of the battle

The battle took place near Novodonetske, a village in the Donetsk region, on November 16, 2023. This area is part of the so-called “grey zone”, a strip of land that separates the Ukrainian-controlled territory from the Russian-occupied territory. The grey zone is a dangerous and volatile place, where clashes and shelling occur almost daily.

Ukraine had launched a counter-offensive in this area earlier in the summer, with the aim of reaching Mariupol, a strategic port city on the Azov Sea. But the attack bogged down and the frontline became static. Russia, meanwhile, had amassed a large number of troops and weapons near the border, and was preparing for a major invasion of Ukraine.

The video of the tank duel

The video that captured the tank duel was uploaded by the Daily Mail, a British tabloid newspaper, on their YouTube channel. The video shows a Russian tank and two armoured vehicles trying to attack Ukrainian positions through a tree-line. But one of Kyiv’s tanks, belonging to the 58th Brigade, demolishes them with accurate fire. Both armoured vehicles are blown to pieces, before the Russian tank is reduced to a smouldering wreck.

The video has gone viral on social media, with many people praising the skill and bravery of the Ukrainian tank crew. Some have compared the tank duel to the famous scene from the movie Fury, where a lone American tank faces off against a German column in World War II.

The context of the war

The tank duel is just one of the many episodes of the war that has been going on since February 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, violating its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia’s aggression was met with condemnation and sanctions from the international community, but also with military and diplomatic support from the US, the UK, and other allies of Ukraine.

The war has been described as the worst security crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War, and as a potential trigger for a Third World War. According to the UN, more than 10,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the war started. More than 1.5 million people have been internally displaced, and another 1.2 million have fled to neighbouring countries. The humanitarian situation in the occupied territories is dire, as people face shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity.

The war has also exposed the fragility of the global order, and the challenges of dealing with a revisionist and authoritarian power like Russia. President Vladimir Putin has shown no signs of backing down, despite the mounting costs and pressures. He has accused the West of meddling in Ukraine’s affairs, and of trying to contain and weaken Russia. He has also exploited the war to rally domestic support and to divert attention from the economic and social problems in his country.

The prospects for peace

The prospects for peace in Ukraine are bleak, as the diplomatic efforts to end the conflict have stalled. The Minsk agreements, signed in 2015 and 2019, have failed to bring a lasting ceasefire and a political solution. The Normandy format, a dialogue between the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, France, and Germany, has not produced any breakthroughs. The US has tried to engage with Russia, but has also warned of severe consequences if the invasion continues.

The main obstacles to peace are the divergent interests and goals of the parties involved. Ukraine wants to restore its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to pursue its European integration. Russia wants to keep Ukraine in its sphere of influence, and to prevent its NATO membership. The West wants to uphold the international law and order, and to deter further Russian aggression. The people of Ukraine want to live in peace and freedom, and to decide their own future.