Prototype discovered near Mariupol
Russians unearth Ukrainian ‘monster tank’
April 5, 2024, 11:27 p.m
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In 2015, Ukrainian engineers are developing a unique armored vehicle for combat in cities. But allegations of corruption stop the tests and the prototype disappears overnight without a trace. Now Russian soldiers have located Azovets near Mariupol.
Russian troops have reportedly discovered a unique combat vehicle in the occupied territories of Ukraine. Moscow soldiers unearthed the famous Ukrainian prototype of the Azovets tank support vehicle on the outskirts of Mariupol in the Donetsk region, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported. The agency also published recordings of the recovered unique specimen online.
The Azovets was designed in 2015 based on the T-64 main battle tank for combat in urban areas. The Azov engineering group under the leadership of the former technical director of the Malyshev defense plant was responsible for the experimental vehicle. The experience of the Azov Regiment, which was fighting in the Mariupol area at the time, also flowed into the development.
The Russians dug up the Azovets near Mariupol.
(Photo: IMAGO/SNA)
According to the Portal Defense blog, the 41-ton “monster tank” has two turrets, each with a double-barreled 23-millimeter aircraft cannon, a PKT machine gun and anti-tank missile launchers. Protection is provided by reactive armor made in Ukraine. Attached cameras are used for control. In an emergency, two crew members were responsible for operating the 180-degree swiveling gun turrets, while the commander and driver were responsible for steering the tracked vehicle.
According to the pro-Ukrainian blog Militaryland, Azovets was presented to the public at the end of November 2015 by the then Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and approved for further development. The first test drive took place in April of the following year. A month later, however, the tests were suspended.
An investigation reportedly revealed that the cameras mounted were designed for home intercom systems and came from China. The authorities then initiated an investigation into suspected corruption and had the vehicle confiscated. In October 2016, unknown persons entered the Azov engineering group compound and stole the Azovets. The fate of the vehicle has been unknown since then.